Donald
Teuma-Castelletti
CAMPBELL’S BAY
Aug. 26, 2017
An open house and barbeque were hosted at the Valentine Centre on Saturday, welcoming families and the community to peek inside the care facility for those suffering from Alzheimer’s.
Working as a two-fold event, the barbeque also served as an opportunity for fundraising in support of affording activities for the residents and eventually affording a new generator.

“We’ve had power going off at different times,” said director Sharon Rivest. “Last year, it went off for two days, and we had to borrow a generator.”
With the facility running off of electric heat, it’s even more important they have a generator come winter time.
Beyond this, the funds raised through the day will go towards affording weekly activities for the residents of the Valentine Centre. Everything from crafts and bingo to outdoor excursions have to be budgeted in, and this proves a great way to help afford such fun.
“We’re big bingo fans around here,” said activity director Tracey Latreille. “We’re going to be starting a quilt project this winter to raffle off.”
Rivest said that despite raising $540 off the event last year, she expected to raise more this time around.
“Better weather means a better turnout,” she laughed. “[The turnout] has been good so far, at least 75 people as of noon based on the amount of hamburgers sold.”
The Valentine Centre is meant to offer a safe place for people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease to reside, offering families the comfort of knowing their loved one is taken care of. Rivest described the stress of caring for someone with Alzheimer’s as even dangerous to the untrained caretaker.
“Caretakers end up collapsing before the sick do,” said Rivest, citing emotional, physical and psychological stress.
“One of our residents used to come to our barbeque,” said Latreille. “If people are interested in checking out what we do here, that’s why we open up.”