New Behchoko seniors' facility becoming central to community

The new seniors home inBehchokohas become a gathering place for elders in the community and there's a steady stream of visitorsfor the residents.

The Jimmy Erasmus seniors home opened in Decemberand is nowhome to eight permanent residents.It's more modern,larger, and warmer than the previous building.

"Other elders, you ask what's a seniors home facility, they'll say right out, it's a place where elders are put to die. It is a reality because that's what a seniors' home is for. But we make it really homey for them," saysJulia Naedzo, the long-term care facility coordinator.

Phase two of the new facility is now underway. It's expected to be finished next year, creating room for 10 more permanent residents.Priority will go to people from theTlichoregion.

The centre's staff speak both English andTlicho.They serve traditional foods and host activities such as bingo night. Forty to 60 elders play for prizes twice a week.

The centre also has a van that picks up other elders living in the community so they can spend the day. The groupmakesmoccasin uppers, crafts, visit and laugh.

Naedzosays somehomeless elders also attend the dayprograms and join the residents for meals.

Caroline Douglas comes to spend the day andsays it's a place any elder would love to be.

"I like it. I really like it. You meet lots of people because when you get older, you hardly go anywhere, but here you get to meet people," she says.

The facility has an open-door policy and non-family members are also welcome to visit.

"Kids come here to visit because they have grandparents here, some have aunties and uncles," says high school studentJulinApples.

John BaptisteLaffertysits on a couch with his 94-year-old grandmother.

"Usually I come by here every day to see how she's doing. She's happy today," he says.

His grandmother, MargariteLafferty, speaks in theTlicholanguage as he translates for her.

"She says she has lots of stories to tell, when a person comes to visit her, and a person wants a story, or a kid, she can tell a story to a person," he relates.