November 27, 2023
Kyle Bilton, a client in the Alternate Level of Care unit at Carewest Sarcee, took advantage of the Recreation Therapy program. He used his carpentry skills to find meaning and purpose during his rehabilitation at the Calgary centre. He refurbished the outdoor flower boxes and created wooden artwork. Photo courtesy of Ashley Carvalho.
One of the flower boxes built by woodworker Kyle Bilton is shown earlier this year. Photo courtesy of Ashley Carvalho.
Kyle Bilton also crafted this wooden plaque etched with the inspirational message: Through Is Through.” Photo courtesy of Ashley Carvalho.
Story by Samara Sinclair | Photos by Ashley Carvalho
CALGARY — At Carewest Sarcee, the Alternate Level of Care (ALC) Recreation team takes a strengths-based approach when it comes to developing programs and interventions for their clients.
Client Service Manager Brooklyn Hurman describes the ALC unit as a bridge that connects clients from one location to the next — a middle ground for clients who no longer need care in an acute setting — but who are unable to return to their previous living situation.
With the wide variety of clientele seen at ALC, the challenge is to find a program that resonates with a large group of people. Recreation therapist Ashley Carvalho develops programs that will both interest clients and support their specific goals.
One client, Kyle Bilton, became the first to participate in a project.
“The reason I approached the recreation department was to find something to do that gave me purpose, kept me busy, and helped with my anxiety and depression,” he says.
“I needed a reason to wake up and have a drive to do something. I needed to find an activity that made me feel good about myself and gave me purpose.”
Knowing Bilton is a carpenter by trade, the recreation team — with the help of Mozac Samson, Manager of Support Services, and Ken, a Carewest painter — created a project to revamp the care centre’s outdoor flowerboxes. This task would require Kyle’s knowledge of carpentry through sanding, painting and rebuilding the boxes.
The existing flower beds had become old and weathered; some had wood rotting away. For a few weeks, Bilton diligently worked away on the job he was given. With a fresh coat of paint and boxes ready to be filled with flowers, the back garden can now serve as a welcoming social hub for future summer seasons.
Bilton found working on the project fulfilling.
“The recreation team gave me the ability to help others, to feel valued, and to have a sense of purpose and meaning. I feel my best when I know I can help out and contribute in any way.”
While care and rehabilitation remain an integral piece to the client experience, recreation and leisure play an equally important role. It’s crucial in helping clients to still feel like themselves — and still have a sense of being a person with goals and aspirations.
“It’s essential for the individual’s well-being to feel supported in their recreational and leisure pursuits,” says Ashley. “Through the use of individual assessments and developing rapport with clients, the recreation team is able to support and develop programs that are person-centred and involve the client in the decision-making process.”
As they collaborate to support clients and build community, members of the recreation team see Bilton’s success story as just the beginning of what they hope will become standard practice at Sarcee.
