Men dine out, shoot pool
Monday, November 22, 2004 - OMNIway staff
Most of the time, the Pleasant Meadow Manor resident relies on his wheelchair to get around.

However, when he heard staff members were taking a group of residents out to play pool, he left his wheelchair behind. In fact, he hardly used his walker at all, moving around the pool table using just his own two feet, a staff member says.

Six residents, accompanied by two staff members and a volunteer, went out to lunch and shot pool Wednesday afternoon. It was an outing just for the men, says Chris Charlebois, Pleasant Meadow’s life enrichment supervisor.

“We all had a really good time,” she says.

“We’re always trying to find programming for men.” While the women enjoy shopping and lunches, men aren’t as fond of those activities, says Chris. The trip to the Campbellford Bar and Grill was the second outing the Norwood home organized exclusively for men. The men took in a Toronto Blue Jays game earlier this year at the SkyDome.

Chris says the men enjoyed pool and some even had a small pint of beer. “They’ve all asked to go again.”

Restorative Care Aide Kathy Herron came up with the idea for the outing.