Dementia care continues to evolve and be more inclusive than ever before. This often means creatively responding to the changing demographics of individuals and creating ways to improve their quality of life in a care environment.

In 2024 the word “enrichment” was added to my chaplain’s vocabulary and here at Hillside Village my question-to-self for the year was “how can I move beyond activity-based regular programming to provide a space where the men could play a greater role in what they did and how they interacted with each other?” In the community, men usually get together informally and just talk or do something as a hobby. After talking to the men and having a meeting with them, the Hillside Village Men’s Shed program was started. 

Our Men’s Shed is an enrichment program for the men and created by the men who determine what they would like to do. Both myself and rec-coordinator, West, help facilitate the gathering and each person is welcomed, valued, and loved within the group. Homemade muffins and fresh coffee are the order of the morning. So far, the men have refurbished the curling sticks and are in the process of finishing some cutting boards and charcuterie boards to sell at the Spring Fling event to raise funds for future projects. Thanks to a grant from Men’s Shed Canada and supplies from a local hardware store, the men now have the supplies and tools they need for future projects and are bringing their ideas and opinions to the table and looking forward to the future with enthusiasm.