A TYPICAL DAY

 

Today, I would like to write about the everyday work of the Wellness Unit rather than a particular event or project.  Much of this work is duplicated in every unit of the house, like cleaning the bathrooms, sweeping and mopping, while other work may be specific to the wellness unit, like chair exercising.

 

A typical day in our unit begins with taking attendance and the morning meeting where tasks are assigned and shared by members and staff.  Planning is also done for gardening days and weekends at Highpoint.  Some members will shop at local stores and farmer’s markets for produce not available from Highpoint.  Salad may be prepared for lunches in the KDR.

 

Other members will enter attendance statistics into the computer or create signs or work on progress note entries into Awards.  Someone will volunteer to lead chair exercises twice daily.  The gym also has to be cleaned daily since both members and staff make use of our equipment. Members have time slots for using the gym equipment while other members and staff act as personal trainers. A member is assigned to reception and answering the phones.  Reach out is done daily and notes are collected weekly for the newspaper.  Members also volunteer to attend various house meetings.

 

A Wellness Café and Farmers Market take place every Friday, and preparations for this include preparing salads, soups, granola bars and muffins for sale.  We will also be introducing different types of tea purchased in Chinatown.  Keeping our physical space clean and inviting rounds out each day.

Wellness Unit by Nuria Kelly for 14IS

Hello, my name is Nuria Kelly. I’ve been a member of Fountain House since 1994. I’ve been working with the members and staff side-by-side all the years I’ve been here. Fountain House is a clubhouse where you work and also enjoy yourself on holidays. At Fountain House there is staff and members of the Wellness Unit that help people lose weight.

The work I liked to do in the Snack Bar, before Wellness started was cooking on the grill. Now I am looking up healthy recipes, making salads for the KDR, zucchini muffins and peach sorbet.

The first time I heard that the Snack Bar was changing I was shocked. I didn’t know what to do, so I said to one of the staff, what is going to be the new name of the unit. He told me the Wellness Unit, so I was surprised. Then I said I am going to miss the Snack Bar. So I said I will get used to the Wellness unit soon.

I am going to lose weight soon thanks to the staff and members of the Wellness Unit. I will be able to do that and I am going to work hard at it. I am not giving up. I am going to make myself look good soon.

In my exercise class, I am working out using the machines that I am instructed to use. I am working on the treadmill for 30 minutes and the elliptical for 15 minutes. Then I am doing chest and bicep and also back and triceps exercises with weights. I am using weight machines and stretches for my arms and legs. I exercise for 1 hour 3 days a week.

The Wellness Unit is a great place to work on trimming down. The machines we have are magnificient. The Wellness Unit, it is exciting to be here. It helps me see myself more, losing weight, exercising and being healthy.