Salem Foundation in Winkler is looking to the community for help to make some much needed upgrades to bathing rooms in the facility.

CEO Sherry Janzen says bathing Residents is not an easy task, as 92% of them have a form of dementia.

"The bathing experience is probably your most traumatic when you'd have a memory deficit," she says. "We want to make the rooms soothing for [Residents] as right now, not that it's anyone's fault, but they look like storage rooms."

She explains for Residents with dementia, it's a new experience every week.

"Imagine if you don't know where you're going, and you walk into a room that has a bathtub that you are not used to getting into, with a chair, and you have stuff standing around all over the place," Janzen says. "It's scary for them."

To alter the bathing experience, the Foundation hopes to renovate the room, adding comforting touches like LED panels that plays soothing music and nature scenes.

The Foundation has set a goal of $50,000 to finish the project and looks to the community for help.

With community members, family and friends of Residents continuing to demonstrate commitment and care, Arlen Hildebrand, Salem Foundation Chair, says not only has the community affected Salem but vice versa as well.

"I would say [Winkler's] a city by name and still a small town village by nature. We still care for our people. We're all affected in one way or another by what Salem Home does for our people. I remember going there in 1971 to see my grandfather, so they've been around for a long time." Hildebrand adds, "It's a great organization and we're so grateful to have something like that in our community."

To raise money for these improvements, Salem Foundation will be holding a "Faspa, Fellowship & Song" Fundraiser at the Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church on October 30th. The Program features the 'Baker Hutterite Choi'r in the afternoon at 3:30 with Faspa to follow.

Hildebrand notes Residents deserve dignity in every aspect of their care, and their bathing room should be a warm and welcoming space.