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FOCUS-MARCH20129Oneofthegreatestloomingareax19sofconcernthehealthcaresystemisfacingtodayisthemarchoftheelderlyintoourhospitalsandhowtodealwiththeuniqueproblemstheybringwiththem.WeinNorthAmericahavenotbeenkindtoourelderswereverethecultureofyouth.RNJoniMountfordofLakeridgeHealthPortPerrypointsoutx1cOurso-cialsystemiscommercebasedyouthfocusedandtotallycommercialized.Oursystemtellsuswearelessvaluedaswegetolder.x1dJoniispassionateaboutthevalueolderpeoplebringtooursocietyandshehasbeeninstru-mentalinndingwaystobridgethegapbetweenyoungandold.Jonihasbeenanursefor40yearsbutsevenyearsagoshetrainedasageriatricresourcenurseforLakeridgeHealth.Shewasaskedtocreateaninitiativetodealwiththeisolationdespairandlonelinessthatmanyelderlypatientsfeel.SoJoniputherheartandsoulintondingawaytolessenwhatshecallsatragedy.x1cWedesperatelyneedourelderswiththeirwisdomandtheirexperi-ences.Theseproudpeopleofourcommunityintheirlatteryearsaresilentandsueringtryingdesperatelytodealwithallkindsoflosslossoffamilyandfriendslossofcontrolovertheirbodieslossofasenseofworthlossoftheirdignity.Weneededtondawaytorestoretheirsenseofvaluelifeandbeautyx1dJoniexplains.FiveyearsagoJonicreatedanewprogramshecallsx1cGIVEx1dGeriatricInitiativeofVolunteersfortheElderly.GIVEiscomprisedofagroupofteenswhoparticipateonmanydierentlevelsbycreatingrelationshipsandinteractingwithgeriatricpatients.Jonix19soriginalcoregroupwassixteenagersandshesaidthatshedesignedanorientationprogramthatwouldincreasetheirunderstandingofwhatitwasliketobeelderly.Shesaysofthebeginningx1cThekidsreallyhadnoconceptionofwhatitistheseelderlypatientswereenduringonadailybasislossofhearingeyesightmobilitybladderlosscognitivethinkingplusofcoursedepressionandisolation.x1dOrientationwasmatteroffactsoJonisatherteenagersdownstuedtheirearsfullofcottonputglassesonthemsmearedwithVaselineandfedthemasshetalkedtothem.x1cBoytheydidnotlikeitonebitx1dshesaidsmiling.Slowlytheteenslearnedthatempathyandkindnessaregiftsfortheelderlyandtheyfoundthattheirseniorpatientshadjustasmuchtogivethemastheywereproviding.Listeningbecametheirgreatestallyinopeningcommunication.AsJonix19steenagevolunteerslearnedtolistenitwasthroughsimpletasksthattheyfoundgreatre-ward.Theylearnedtojustsimplybewiththepatientsjusttalkingwritingaletterforthemplayingcardsgoingforawalklookingthroughpictures.GIVEProgramatLHPPispassionatevolunteeringatitsbestPleaseturntopage10PhotobyJ.PeterHvidsten