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The Highlands Alzheimer’s patients get specialty chairs through golf tournament
Posted on Friday, October 23, 2009Alzheimer’s patients at The Highlands in Fitchburg, Mass., benefit from a yearly golf tournament in Townsend, which raises funds to purchase specialty Broda chairs for them.
Fitzy’s Golf Classic Driving for a Cure started in 2000, when the Fitzgerald family saw the need for comfortable yet secure chairs for those suffering from the disease. Ann Fitzgerald is a resident at The Highlands, and her son, Bradford, and her husband, Elmer, have generously reached out to many at the facility. The Fitzgerald and Fors families organize the event each year (Fors was Ann’s last name from her first marriage).
“Bradford has played in many tournaments, and he felt it would be a good way to show his appreciation for what the folks at The Highlands have done for us,” said Elmer Fitzgerald. “We have enjoyed it and feel good that in some small way we can give a little back.”
The 2009 tournament, held Aug. 21, raised approximately $6,000. The Broda chairs cost approximately $2,500 each. Over nine years, the tournaments have raised $40,000, which has helped the facility buy 14 chairs for the residents.
The chairs allow residents to sit or lie down, and according to Social Services Manager Linda Rodriguez, they are particularly helpful for residents with fragile skin who require careful positioning. The chairs allow the residents to sit or lie down comfortably, maintain good skin integrity and be wheeled around the facility. The mobility helps these residents have a better quality of life by allowing them to attend activities or even simply look out the facility’s windows instead of staying in their beds in their rooms.
“You can see the difference these chairs make,” said Rodriguez. “When Ann Fitzgerald got her chair, you could see her face light up and her posture improve – it has helped her and the other residents who have received them a lot.”
“It started small, but it’s an event that’s grown,” said Elmer Fitzgerald. “We’ve had a full card of 144 the last four or five years.”
Several department heads played in the tournament this year, with more associates from The Highlands volunteering their time to help with the event and others purchasing tickets for gift basket drawings.
About The Highlands
Located in historic Fitchburg, The Highlands has been providing quality elderly care to nursing home residents since 1988. Originally built in 1950 as the Nurses Home for the Burbank Hospital School of Nursing, this facility has stood proudly on Hospital Hill welcoming those needing nursing care. Known for its rich history of paper mills and shoe manufacturing, Fitchburg is the ideal setting for this historic nursing home facility. The facility features inpatient rehabilitation therapy, a separate Alzheimer's care unit, an adult day health program, and much more. Located just outside downtown Fitchburg, the facility offers an environment of exceptional care where residents and families actively participate in their care to reach their individual goals.
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