Schervier Pavilion residents enjoy a day at the ball park

WARWICK — It may not exactly have been the World Series, but it was a great day of minor league baseball for a group of residents from Schervier Pavilion who recently traveled to Skylands Park in nearby Augusta, New Jersey, to watch the Sussex Skyhawks play the Quebec Capitales. The teams are members of the Can-Am League and, after all, baseball is still baseball. Hot dogs, popcorn and the seventh-inning stretch are all a part of the game. And the Skyhawks, who lost the game on this particular day, were also giving away seat cushions. “The game was terrific,” said Kari Call, Schervier Pavilion’s director of recreation. “Not only did everyone receive a free seat cushion, but they were given hats, pens and key chains. And it was also fireworks night and the display was great. The evening was thoroughly enjoyed by all.” Schervier Pavilion Skilled Nursing facility is part of the Warwick Campus of Bon Secours Charity Health System. The facility shares that campus with St. Anthony Community Hospital and Mount Alverno Center. This past summer, residents took many interesting day trips to local restaurants, historic sites, bowling alleys and even a casino. And on one trip to a nearby private lake, the happy travelers brought fishing gear and bait and actually caught fish. Those who participated in the numerous day trips that were offered this past summer have many pleasant memories. All programs at Schervier Pavilion are designed to meet the psychosocial and physical needs of the residents with activities that are not only enjoyable but are also intended to achieve this goal. Day trips, such as this trip to the baseball field and other pleasant excursions, are not only nice breaks from the resident’s daily routine, but also give everyone something to look forward to and talk about. They also have another important value. “The purpose of recreational therapy,” said Call, a certified therapy recreation specialist, “is to restore, treat or rehabilitate in order to improve functioning and independence as well as reduce or eliminate the effects of illness or disability.” As Director of Recreation, her job is to provide recreation resources and opportunities for both the long and short-term residents of the skilled nursing home in order to maintain and improve their health and well being. “Therapeutic recreation,” she added, “is essential to the quality of life and the quality of care of individuals receiving health and human services.” Additional information about Schervier Pavilion, Mount Alverno Center, Day-At-A-Time and St. Anthony Community Hospital is available on the Web at www.StAnthonyCommunityHosp.org.