Mount Macrina giving residents taste of home with new bedspreads
Mount Macrina Manor wants to provide a new bedspread to every resident at the skilled nursing home. Although each resident already uses single-color institutional bedspreads, the new comfortable threads offer a little more color and style.
“The reason we are doing this is that we want to focus not only on improving the length of life, but the quality of life for every resident in our care,” said Marian Chambers, fund development director for Mt. Macrina Manor.
The project’s first phase will focus on the 44 people in the memory care units before it expands to the other units in the 139-bed center.
“Residents will be able to select the bedspread,” Chambers said. “They can choose a particular color or pattern that might remind them of a special time in their life. Some bedspreads have solid pattern, some have colorful patterns, but all are warm and cozy. They will make Mount Macrina look less institutional and more homelike.”
Bedspreads will be displayed so residents can choose the spread they like best.
Sister Thomasine Gernat has her eye on a yellow, patterned bedspread designed by Laura Ashley. “It’s soft, the kind of thing my mother would have had,” she said.
Area churches, businesses and others have contributed bedspreads and financial contributions to the project for the past several months. Mt. Macrina Manor has the ability to provide about 100 residents with new bedspreads, but 39 more are needed.
“We’re trying to create a more homelike atmosphere,” said Sister Seraphim Olsafsky, provincial of the Sisters of Saint Basil at Mount Macrina.
Every donor participating in the project will be invited to an informal reception to be held when the bedspreads are displayed and resident selections are made. The donors will be invited to participate in the reception along with the residents and their family members on March 30.
“This is a great way for the community to become involved with the residents,” said Patricia Benford, administrator/chief executive officer at Mt. Macrina Manor.
Mt. Macrina Manor is seeking donations of new, twin-size bedspreads in any color or pattern. The staff cannot accept bedspreads with a dust ruffle because they pose potential fall risks for the residents.
Mt. Macrina Manor also would accept any cash, checks or gift cards which can be used for the purchase of bedspreads. It is estimated that each new bedspread costs $30. Donations for less than that amount will be combined with other donations to purchase a bedspread. All donated bedspreads can be dropped off at the front desk of Mt. Macrina Manor.
Donations may be mailed to Mount Macrina Manor, 520 W. Main St., Uniontown, PA 15401. To discuss a contribution of either bedspreads or money, call Chambers, at 724-984-8526.