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8-The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, March 8, 2005 L* 87~~U Larir L www.kenfiowemsop com 878-2881 Y, if a M rtnd leGardens Residents reflect on first year at seniors' facility By STEPHANIE THIESSEN The Champion For the more than 70 residents who eall Martindale Gardens home, the past year has involved many changes - some pleasant, some flot - as they've adjusted to living in a retirement home. For many of the men and women living there. the change in lifestyle from 13 months ago to now couldn't be more different. In most cases. the past year has involved seli ing their homes and many of their possessions 10 move int the Martin Street retireinent homne. and then adapting. Many would agree il's been a bittersweet experience. freeing and difficult at With this month marking the one-year anniversary of Martindale Gardens Retirement Residence, six of the tirst residenîs to move in gathered Un the library Friday moming t0 share some of the joys and difficulties of the past 12 months. Each of' their stories is unique. and yet they hold many similarities. Three years ago. Jeannette Brown found her- self living alone in her Trafalgar Road home when her husbanà passed away. She felt lonely. she said. and the upkeep of the bouse was too much. So. one cold. ciea day last Match. she moved int Martindale Gardens. Altbougb Jim and Jessie Schofield stjîl have each other. the couple said they also found their Bell Street home too difficult t0 maintain, and ', decided 10 move 10 Martindale Gardens flnot tan easy decision 10 make, they said. since they'd lived at their previous home for almost 50 years. "It was a big adjustrment and il wasn't always easy,- Ms Schofield said of the first year. -1 catt tell you the number of limes 1 cried. 'l wanî 10 go F home."' Ms Scbofield - who taugbl ai J.M. Denyes Public School for 28 years - said as spring approaches. she catit belp but think of ber gar- den on Bell Street and how thisîIl be the firaI year she won'l be linkering around in il. Despile the raw emotions, the Schofields agree Martindale is a wonderful place 10 be. The first year "wenl like that." Mr. Schofield said. snap- ping his fingers. T1here are many activilies and programs from whicb 10 choose aI the relirement and assisled living home. and Mr. Scbofield said most of the residenîs lead very active lives. "Most people here are busy. They're flot sitling around here vegelalîng." Euchre and bingo seem 10 the ladies' favourite activities. he said. and he goes 10 play pool svhile bis wife is occupied. The day before, Mr. z 4~ L mamciae Gadensfirst oesi Carroll Badtz, Ron and Kathleen WlkIna, Bill McTrach, Murray TaIer, Jeainnette Brown and Jesas and Jlm Schofleld gather In the alttlng room for the faclltya fitat annlveraay. Photo by GR4HAM PAINE Scbofield said, there'd been an opera singer per- forming. Before the pair arrived, Ms Scbof'ield said she struggled witb beahth issues including cancer and kidney probleros. Since she moved 10 Martindale. she said she's been mucb better - and she isn't the only one 10, feel the comfortable home bas contributed 10 ber bealtb. Mr. Schofield said he's seen numerous resi-. dents arrive downcasî and lifeless. particularly after losing a spouse. 'Men. afler a lime. they begin te, perk up and are soon living vibranîly.' Ron and Kathleen Wilkins are anoîber of the 'original' couples wbo caîl Martindale Gardens home, after living in Scarborough for decades. Simply living in an apartment-style building was quite a change for tbem. Mr. Wilkins said. "1 lived in a bouse in Scarborougb for 38 years. I've neyer lived in an apartment building. Il took some getting used 10." he said. But adjust he did. and Mr. Wilkins and bis wife said îbey truly appreciate the friendships they've made and the belpful nature of the staff. Someîhing else that requires getting used 10 is being around other people so mucb wben many residenîs are used te, living alone or witb one other person. Resident Bill McTracb said: "Wben you move bere. you inherit everyone's problems." Bowever, be explained that bas an up aide since il means the residenîs are there for eacb other. "We comfort one another." Ms Brown added. Mr. Schofield said he's heard some inaccurate descriptions around town of whaî Martindale Gardens is. and he wants 10 set the record sîraighî about wbaî a great place il is. "1 don't tbink the îown realizes bow unique ibis is." he said. The residenîs baven't been the only ones deal- ing with change. General Manager Marlene Williams said Martindale bas filled up very quickly, requiring a steady streamn of ueo, staff, programs and even adjusîments 10 the building ilsett. Martindale Gardens is now 90 per cent occu- pied. As a resuli of a bigber-tban-asticîpated desire for the apartment-style suites. some of the smaller rooms are being enlarged and will be available in tbe spring. Ms Williams agreed the majority of residents undergo quite a transformation in their tirai few monîbs ai Martindale. "When people tbink about retirement living. tbey're concerned about the adjusîmenîs. But il isn'î long (before) they say they sbould've come sooner." Wbether talking wiîb staff or residenîs. one mas's name repeatedly pops up: KarI Reichert, the mati bebind Martindale Gardens. Everyone agrees il was bis vision and persistence ihat led 10 ils creation. Ever humble. Mr. Reichert will say wbenever he gels the chance that he was simply obeying God. "He worked really bard 10 gel Ibis place (huilt)," Mr. Schofield said, adding. "1-e's an extremely devoîed mati. I don't know whaî we'd do withouî KarI Reichert." 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