After spending 35 years in a career as a licensed practical nurse (LPN) at the Moose Mountain Lodge in Carlyle, Bertha Isleifson saw a need for the 42 Lodge residents to have those “little extras” to brighten their day.
Isleifson retired in 2018 from the long-term care facility and then came back as a casual LPN last year.
She spearheaded the idea of the volunteer group “Friends of the Moose Mountain Lodge” but she says she had a lot of help with setting up the committee, who made sure everything was being done by the book and following the proper bylaws.
"Our activities department does a wonderful job but sometimes financially their hands are tied," says Isleifson. “We just wanted to do those little 'extra' things for the residents.”
“The health region has so many facilities to fund and the little things like paying to bring in a musician for the day is not in their budget.”
The volunteer group was started back in 2015. Some of the volunteers had loved ones in the facility and their goal is to enhance the everyday lives of the residents and support the staff who care for them.
“The volunteers vary but the group has 10 strong,” explains Isleifson.
Prior to COVID especially, the group has done a variety of things.
“We purchase fresh fruit once a month and then also our local legion buys fruit once a month for them. It’s just an extra treat for the residents, this month it happens to be peaches.”
Sometimes they may be treated to an A&W meal.
The group hosts family barbecues and decorates for various holidays.
They purchase the flowers for the outdoor patio.
The volunteers have done much of the fundraising to pay for various items but a lot of the time when a family's loved one passes, they'll leave a donation to the Friends of the Moose Mountain Lodge as part of their bequest.
“Our Lions Club in Carlyle has given us very generous donations,” explains Isleifson.
Families also donate to the music fund.
“We bring in musicians including Rory Allen and Jeffery Straker, but sometimes we get local musicians to come in and just volunteer their time and talent.”
“We just like to try to give those little 'extras' to the residents.”
“We work with the activities department, who line up things and we help pay.”
Now that the COVID-19 rules have relaxed a bit, the group is able to once again bring in musical talent which is always a big hit with the residents.
There may be a core group of 10 volunteers but there's so many volunteers that are always willing to help out, whether it's cooking the burgers for the family barbecues or otherwise.
Isleifson is grateful for the co-operation from the businesses as well.
“My ultimate goal is that this group continues on into the future,” says Isleifson.
“When I had this dream five or six years ago, I ran into a few ladies and I always teased that every strong energetic woman in town should join my group and we just have had such success because we just have the attitude 'well we'll try it and see how it goes.’”
Everything has been very successful.
“We buy Christmas gifts for the residents every year so that they all have something under the tree,” explains Isleifson, who adds, “the local quilting club Bits and Pieces made and donated all these beautiful lap quilts and bed quilts so we had one for every resident.”
“The community is behind us so much…it's wonderful.”
“Some volunteers have moved away but we're always recruiting,” says Isleifson.
Feel free to give Bertha Isleifson a call at 306-577-9644.
