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EE 16 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, June 23, 1987 There's a house on Ella Street, a very special house perched on a hill, surrounded by shady old trees, a rainbow of flowers and a wee vegetable garden. For years, Port Perry has wondered about this house, curious about the people who make it their home. They see its residents on Queen Street, but they understand little or nothing. The people of this house have been an enigma. Until recently. Until the 3 . WETTRE. TY) Saran eee A RE Gy eel PEE. = : FE: He "w ---- se Quite a crowd was on hand at 87 Ella Street last Thursday afternoon when 'Chateau Bleu" owner of the house threw open its doors and unveiled the cloak of mystery Yvonne James owns the house at 87 Ella Street and for several years has been the mother, thé teacher and the friend of 12 adults with men- tal health problems. Three years ago she came up with the idea of holding an open house, to show her neighbours and the com- munity just what her home, and her work, is all about a warm, welcoming home for people with men- ¢ x "a The idea simmered on Whitby Psychiatric Hospital's back burner until two weeks ago, when it was ap- proved and Mrs. James started planning in earnest for the first open house of 'Chateau Bleu," the pet name of 87 Ella Street. With the help of many volunteers, friends and the residents themselves, Chateau Bleu opened its doors to the public last Thursday June 18, and the response was overwhelming. = "4 J $= +3 e. Li 4 2% Bg ES SL Fa tal health problems, held an open house. For details, see story. All afternoon, people came 'and went, enjoying homemade refreshments, asking questions, and touring the house Port Perry has wondered about for so long. The day was an extremely grati- fying one for Yvonne James, who has wanted to share Chateau Bleu , for so long. "This is an opportunity to open the doors, officially, and to say, come on in," she said. 'I keep on saying, come in, see us. Don't shut us out. We are here." The "We" in question are 12 men and women who suffer some type of mental health problem. Unable to function on their own, they never- theless aren't suited to lives in hospitals such as Whitby Psych. In the late 1950's and 60's it became clear to people in the men- tal health field that care in the com- munity could be provided for a large number of people in psychiatric in- stitutions. Although these people did not require on-going hospital care, they did require structured supervi- sion in order to live in a community. In response to this idea, this need, the Homes for Special Care Pro- gram was established in 1964, for care and supervision both in nurs- ing and in residential homes. The whole idea was to provide a home- like atmosphere so people could live as normal a lifestyle as possible. Province-wide, the program re- mains under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health, -with local authority given to the administrator of Whitby Psychiatric Hospital, and responsibility to the Community Placement Department. The staff of the department, con- - sisting of one coordinator, two full- time and one part-time community placement workers, and a full-time secretary, is responsible for 26 residential and 17 nursing homes located in Toronto, Scarborough, Durham Region, Victoria and Nor- thumberland Counties, and the southern tip of Muskoka. These facilities accommodate approx- imately 600 residents, 200 of whom are in residential homes where the bulk of staff activity is concentrated. ~ Within the program are five sub- areas including vocational, social, recieational. life skills and com- munity awareness. All residents must participate in at least two areas Butinorder to achieve these goals. other .people must be involved Thus the operators of the residen- tial homes. like Yvonne James at Chateau Bleu, are in integral part of - the program, just as administrators do at nursing homes. . Ms. James is quick to point out Chateau Bleu isn't a nursing home. "*Irun it as a family, a home, not a nursing home," she stressed. 'I enjoy my job. We all have Ella Street house mystery is finally solved disabilities in different forms, after all. These people are my family." In the Port Perry and surrounding areas such as Blackstock, Myrtle Station and Prince Albert, residen- tial homes were established in 1967. As the operators ended their in- volvement over 'the years, the homes were opened elsewhere, un- til only Chateau Bleu remains. Dottie Solomon, Community Placement Coordinator with Whit- by Psych, had only praise for Mrs. James at the open house. "She has done an extra good job." she told the crowd. "She's given these people a friendly, caring home." And while Mrs. James provides a home, she has much help from peo- ple at Whitby Psych as well as peo- ple in the community. Many social and recreational ac- tivities are organized with the help of volunteers, among them Hellen -Jewell, who runs a social program three times a month in Prince Albert. And then there is bowling, Church and Church sponsored ac- tivities, as well as an educational program in collaboration with the hospital providing community awareness, life skills, socialization and recreational (held in Whitby). Several local people also help out with visits, including Mrs. Pat Gun- ther who often includes her own family in activities. Next year, two students from Port Perry High School will work at Chateau Bleu through the school's co-op program, starting in September. As Mrs. Solomon says, there is lots of help available to Mrs. James, although she is in the home 24 hours a day, ready to help with any problems. "Mrs. James is to be commend- ed for her achievements, some of which occur under very difficult and trying circumstances,'"' Mrs. Solomon said. Not that she does everything alone. The residents, Mrs. James says, are responsible for many chores including making their own beds and helping in the kitchen. On the day of the open house, in fact, none of the residents are to be seen. Mrs. James says they were given the option whether to goon a regularly scheduled field trip or stay for the open house. They all opted for the trip She's hoping. though. in the future, more people will feel {ree to just drop in and say hello when the residents are there. She's proud to share her hrightly painted home with its sunroom, where residents can sit back, relax, and watch squir- rels frisking on the roof, or tend their own vegetable garden, or just feel at home. "Because," Mrs. James said, "that's what it is. Home." © Community hb Daycare Centre Inc. OPENING JUNE 29th, 1987 Interested parents are welcome to drop in to meet the staff and view the facilities the week of June 22nd, 9 AM to 5 PM We will be accepting registration at this time We are located in Utica. north of the General Store. in the Utica United Church no pees TOUR i fe