The Hamlets at Westsyde
3255 Overlander Drive V2B 0A5 Kamloops, BC, Canada

Spreading a bit of warmth and kindness is a part of the job for these RCMP officers. http://ow.ly/zsON50DgasQ

Happy New Year! Today we ring in 2021 and embrace the new with hope, dreams, and ambition. Wishing you and yours a year full of warmth, heath and happiness! "You are never too old to set anther goal or to dream a new dream." - C.S Lewis

Here are a few more photo’s from vaccine day! So excited to share some residents who were vaccinated.

What New Years Eve traditions do you and our family have? "We could all use a little more luck in 2021. Every culture has its own ways to ring in a lucky new year." Check out this article to see some traditions to celebrate and ring in an extra lucky year! http://ow.ly/Mm5F50CXPGY

The Hamlets at Westsyde is so excited to announce that all of our residents who wanted it received the vaccine today. A WHOPPIN 99%!!! All team members were given the opportunity last week, we are very hopeful this is the first step in returning to normal again!!

Many of us are stuck indoors this winter. For some it’s because of COVID-19. For others it may be because of all the rain and snow. But if you’re creative, there are still plenty of activities that one can do inside. We’re going to list some of them below. http://ow.ly/tbwn50D016p

If you are a snowbird feeling a bit of cabin fever this winter, this might help! This article show some ways to virtually travel the world - with options of visiting the Louvre in Paris online or a Virtual Machu Picchu tour. There are so many option to check out! Let us know which was your favourite! http://ow.ly/FCoM50CVR5w

Everybody allows that the talent of writing agreeable letters is peculiarly female, Jane Austen wrote in Northanger Abbey. For proof, one only has to look to penpals Jill Stretton and Cathie Alexander, who’ve maintained a faithful correspondence for seven decades while living half a world apart. http://ow.ly/U7Mb50Da7Sv

Wishing you all the joy of the season, may it continue into the days ahead! Merry Christmas! "I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year." - Charles Dickens

We are so thankful to those who donated all these gifts making it possible for every single senior in our home to get a very full stocking this year. We have had so many donations from blankets to socks to personal care items that we will have extra to pay forward to other seniors in our community. Our hearts are full and are so grateful of the outpouring of support we have received from so many! A special thank you to David Thompson elementary, Save on Foods Westsyde, TD Bank, Westsyde crafting club and knitting group, Plan A and all of the AMAZING community members of Westsyde who dropped off gifts anonymously!

A HUGE shout out to the teachers and students at Westsyde elementary!! Not only did they sing their hearts out for our seniors...... but also delivered us 200+ handmade cards. Thank you for spreading the Christmas Spirit

In all the years they’ve been together, Lucille, 81, and Marvin Stone, 88, worked hard to make their marriage last. After decades of love and kindness, their efforts paid off as they recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary! To mark the special occasion, Lucille and Marvin staged a photoshoot donning the same attire they wore on the day they took their vows. http://ow.ly/kinU50D5VJv

We are very proud that the first vaccine in Kamloops was one of our very own amazing nurses!!

Are you thinking of having a Zoom visit tomorrow? Good news! As As a thank you to its customers, from midnight ET on November 26 through 6am ET on November 27, Zoom is lifting their 40-minute time limit on free meetings. The video communications platform isn’t just lifting the free time limit in the USthis Thanksgiving initiative is global, so whether you have family or good friends in Sydney or London or Taipei, you can talk to them this coming Thursday. For as long as you like. https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/free-zoom-calls-thanksgivi/

In the fall, while following strict Covid guidelines and while wearing proper PPE, we were able to film our Hamlets family. We are so thankful to be able to share with you a bit of what life looks like here at the Hamlets Westsyde.

Let's stuff some stockings! We love giving each of our residents a magical Christmas, and could use your help! We are looking for donations for stocking stuffer items to spread some extra Christmas cheer to our residents. Items of interest are, socks, oral care products, razor, blankets, slippers, sweets and candy, lip balm, beauty products, shampoo and conditioner, body wash, winter wear, art supplies, and coloring books and activity books (crossword, word search ect.)... If you are able and interested in donating, please contact our Recreation Manager Tammi North. Donations can be dropped off at The Hamlets at Westsyde. To allow proper time to prepare all donations, we ask that these items are delivered prior to December 15.

Our favouritte things count down continues with #10 We would love to see your favourite ornaments. Share your pictures and stories in the comments! Decorating your Christmas tree can bring back so many memories from Christmas over the years. As we look through our ornaments, we find some decorations that have been given as gifts, handmade by family members, and that we have had for years. Whatever they are they, the memories attached to them make our trees feel even more special!

As most of you are aware, we have had a positive covid test result in the building, in our effort to be transparent to you we wanted to provide you with all of the details. An environmental health official was sent to our site to review our infection control procedures. We are happy to report they are very confident in the processes we have in place to keep your loved ones safe. We are also happy to report that the test results from all of the residents on C2 have come back with 100% negative results. We are committed to maintaining our high quality of care to your loved ones, it is our top priority to keep them safe.

Christmas Countdown #11 What is your favourite Christmas recipe? This time of year is great for baking and making and sharing delish food. Do you have a go to cookie recipe that you pull out during Christmas time, or perhaps a family recipe that has been passed down to you? We would love for you to share your stories with us! If you are looking to try some new recipes, and learn a little Christmas cookie history, check out this article: http://ow.ly/K4ue50CLur7

"Everyone knows Santa's main workshop is at the North Pole, but some might be surprised to learn that a satellite operation has been running out of a home on a West Vancouver hillside for 26 years. That's where Bill Chalmers, 90, has handcrafted 200 delightful wooden toys with wheels every year trucks, race cars and Scotty dogs in honour of his own heritage that are donated to the North Shore Family Services Christmas Bureau before finding their way to a child who might otherwise not get a present under the tree. Over the years, they estimate they've made and given away upwards of 5,000 toys."

"For many holiday bakers, classic gingerbread cookie cut-outs are an absolute must. If gingerbread's your happy place, here are 10 quick tips to help you bake and decorate the most delightful gingerbread cookies." #GingerbreadCookieDay http://ow.ly/8BaX50Cre0U

Let the countdown begin: 12 Days until Christmas! Hot cocoa is a holiday favourite, and we want to know what your favourite festive drink is! #nationalcocoaday

We love sharing with you what goes on behind the scenes, and how much effort we go to, to ensure team members and residents are safe, healthy, and happy! Here is a walkthrough of what the start of a shift looks like here at the Hamlets at Westsyde!

If music be the food of love, play on! Prevented from visiting his sick wife in hospital, 81-year-old Stefano Bozzini decided to take to the street outside to serenade her on his accordion. The touching moment was captured on film by their son Maurizio and has since gone viral. Follow the link to watch the video http://ow.ly/HxE950CjjKB

Today we remembrance all the men and women who served and sacrificed for our country. It is a day we encourage every individual, to pause, to give thanks and to remember. #LestWeForget

We are loving how lovely our courtyard looks in Fall colours!!

What was your most memorable childhood toy? It can be fun to take a trip down memory lane and revisit memories that bring joy. Memories can be sparked when looking at a picture or an item that holds meaning. This is especially true for those with dementia. Often times their long- term memory is full of stories that are retrievable, making this a great way to communicate and stay connected. http://ow.ly/3PpA50CJxNM

Do you have brussels sprouts as a part of your Christmas dinner? Brussels sprouts have made their way onto a lot of holiday tables, and if they are tasting different then you remember, you are not wrong! Before the 1990s brussels sprouts use to have a very strong bitter taste. It was in the 1990s that Dutch scientist Hans van Doorn figured out what compound made brussels sprouts so bitter. From then on many brussels sprouts seed providers began selling and cross pollinating... brussels sprout varieties that contained less of the bitter compound, causing these greens to be a lot tastier!! http://ow.ly/j20r50CEcMT

Here to help you through Covid-19. You are not alone. Together we will get through this. https://www.thehamletsatwestsyde.com/

Happy Thanksgiving day from our Hamlet family to yours! "Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings." William Arthur Ward

We get some beautiful sunsets here! Environment Canada meteorologist Doug Lundquist explains why in this article. Do you have some beautiful sunset pictures? Share them with us! http://ow.ly/IiNA50Cd2gB

A very cool opportunity for anyone wanting to get into health care!

Have you ever considered turning your love and compassion for our vulnerable elders into action by becoming a Care Aide in BC? Was the impossibility of taking time off work or taking on a student loan simply something that has prevented you from taking that step? The Government of BC announced a new program where you will get paid during your training to become a care aide! The program will take approximately a year to complete, but at the end you will be a registered and fu...lly trained care aide that is able to work anywhere in BC. If you or anyone you know are even remotely interested, check out more about this incredible offer at the link below: https://www2.gov.bc.ca//economic-recov/work-in-health-care See more

Fresh, Fun and Festive here is a little peak at some of our fall décor!

Follow the link to check out or October Activity Calendar! We have lots of fun things planned! http://ow.ly/FkH450BIlUf

A fun time was had by all of our assisted living residents on their day trip to SunPeaks on Monday!

For the past four years Brian Golding has taken his winter wood and created large woodpile sculptures in his front yard. He's made boats, fish and tigers, but he decided to go meta this year by constructing a massive chainsaw. He named the woodpile sculpture Chain Reaction and Golding thinks it's probably the biggest and most complex project he has ever done. Golding says the happiness he sees in people people driving by to look at the sculpture makes it all worthwhile. "With... the way things are today, if I can give somebody that one second of that little bit of happiness then that's all the satisfaction you could get from it," he said. http://ow.ly/sQuW50BEKh6

Every brain changes with age, and mental function changes along with it. Mental decline is common, and it's one of the most feared consequences of aging. But cognitive impairment is not inevitable. Here are 12 ways you can help maintain brain function. http://ow.ly/2rIm50BAJWq

Happy Autumn! "There is something incredibly nostalgic and significant about the annual cascade of autumn leaves." Joe L. Wheeler #AutumnEquinox

Last week was International Housekeepers week! We took the opportunity to thank and celebrate our amazing team of housekeepers. They work so hard and do such a great job. "Thanks a HOLE bunch for being so awesome! we DO-NUT know what we would do without you!"

We love to have a good time around here!! Our Summer Carnival was just that! Everyone had so much fun in our safe, social and entertaining festivities!!

What are you doing to keep feeling positive during these times? In a recent poll, respondents identified entertainment, such as TV, movies, music and reading, as helping them to feel better, followed by exercise, visiting family and friends and having pets. http://ow.ly/HjvP50Bs0X0