Sherrie Kenyon
For the Senior Scene

What if you could teach someone to believe and to fight for their dream?  What if you could help someone to stand in the midst of a tragedy?  Would you?  Each of us is given an opportunity to play a vital role in helping others to overcome obstacles and to achieve their dreams.

Orchard Park Health Care & Rehab Center has been extending healthcare services to families for over 40 years.  Orchard Park staff, along with residents, and family members believe the future of our community is with our children. David Brower, founder of the Sierra Club Foundation and environmentalist, once said; “We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.”

The residents have a monthly council meeting to determine what activities and services they need.  Three years ago residents voted to support Orchard Park in extending a hand to help future generations.  “We are committed to developing and implementing person-centered care and services.”  The Resident Council gives residents an opportunity to be involved.  This involvement led to the Boys and Girls Club.  Teaming up with the Pierce County Boys and Girls Clubs, and the Matt and Danny’s Adventure fund, they help give 21 ten-year-olds an opportunity of a lifetime–a five day educational adventure and wildlife experience in Yellowstone National Park.  Looking forward to helping these children is a highlight of the residents at Orchard Park.

The children apply for this opportunity by writing a story describing why they deserve to be picked.  A child from each club is chosen to take a weeklong trip to Yellowstone National Park.  To prepare for the trip, they visit Point Defiance Zoo and Northwest Trek, learning about and experiencing wildlife, ecology and geography.  They also learn about teamwork and being a part of something bigger.

This year’s trip will be in late August.  The boys and girls agree that this is a life changing event.  They come back home with a higher self esteem while caring for and taking care of each other.  Functioning as a group is a high priority for them.  The experience they have, from the plane ride to seeing the wonders of Yellowstone, gives them memories they will carry through their lives.

This program with the Boys and Girls Club is a small part of the wide range of health care services, recreational programs and activities, and social events offered in the long term care at Orchard Park.

Along with long term care, they provide a comprehensive range of restorative and rehabilitative services, including physical, occupational and speech language therapy.  Their goal is to enable each resident to get the skilled care they need to get back on their feet.  The post-surgical rehabilitation program is tailored to meet the needs of each individual patient at Orchard Park.  Skilled professionals from many different areas of expertise use the latest equipment and techniques to ensure the best outcome possible–no matter what the problem.
Over the years, Orchard Park has nurtured a reputation as the premier provider of nursing care and rehabilitation in Pierce County.  They recently won the Bronze Award for commitment to quality from the American Heart Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living.  Orchard Park is also one of the few Skilled Nursing facilities that is Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) certified.

For more information on Orchard Park facilities or to donate to the Matt & Danny’s Adventures for the Boys and Girls Clubs, call Melissa McPherson, Marketing and Community Liaison at 253-475-4611 or email: Melissa.McPherson@Reveraliving.com.