Schervier Pavilion residents go fishing at Bruderhof village

WARWICk — A sign on the door to the Schervier Pavilion long-term care facility in Warwick might easily have read, “Gone Fishing.” On Thursday, August 10, a group of Schervier Pavilion residents, accompanied by Administrator Michael Deyo, Director of Recreation Kari Call and members of her staff, left Warwick around 10 a.m. to take a short scenic trip to a private lake on lands owned by the Bellvale Bruderhof Community just off Gibson Hill Road in Chester. Schervier residents often take day trips to nearby restaurants, historic sites, bowling alleys and even casinos. The Bruderhof Community had invited the residents and staff of Schervier Pavilion to enjoy a day of fishing on its property. And, in keeping with their custom of reaching out to their neighbors, the members also invited their guests to share a lunch with them in their communal dining hall. Members of the Bruderhof Community, including several youngsters, assisted the Schervier Pavilion staff in making sure that all the residents were stationed safely near the lake, properly equipped and ready to cast their lines. The Bruderhof volunteers also offered their guests fresh fruit, water and other refreshments. “This is beautiful,” said Schervier Pavilion resident Fred Seifert. And raising his cup of cold soda, he added, “A toast to Schervier Pavilion for taking us fishing.” Although the “Fishing Day” was intended to be a pleasant excursion away from daily routine, it had another important value. “The purpose of recreational therapy,” said Call, a certified therapy recreation specialist (CTRS), “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 wellbeing. “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.