Fancy Friday is a unique and lively ongoing program that was organized by the Sexual Health Education Program at the Halvor Jonson Centre for Brain Injury to meet the needs of their female clients. The delightful session runs every Friday from 8:30 to 10 a.m. and assists the ladies with the application of their makeup, painting fingernails, and doing hair in preparation for the busy day ahead, and to allow the patients to feel and look their best for when they attend hospital dances and social functions!
Fancy Friday coordinator Rebecca Sklofsky explains that the program has been running for over a year, and that they would like to see it continue as both patients and their families have reported very positive effects.
“Staff and students are the ‘aestheticians’ for the program, and we are always amazed with some of the talented individuals that we have working in our program,” Sklofsky expressed. “Our clients seem to enjoy the setting of a small room with music, conversations, and an opportunity to feel better about the way they look.”
Sklofsky enjoys being a part of the program and is pleased with the response of the patients.
“As a staff member it is very rewarding to see patients have a choice about colours, styles and things that reflect their own personal style,” she said. “It is also nice to hear client comments like…. ‘I look pretty’, ‘wow’, as well as many thank yous and big smiles.”
Sklofsky has also caught herself wearing more makeup lately, and realizing the importance of just looking and feeling your best. Hospital settings can quite often take away from a sense of independence and self esteem and this program is one that they can do to decrease the feeling of institutionalizing. “Our goal is to normalize aspects of being in a hospital by offering and encouraging daily care needs that most women like to do,” the congenial coordinator explains.
New volunteers always welcome!
The Centennial Centre for Mental Health and Brain Injury is always open to recruiting volunteers, and Fancy Friday is no exception to this. They are currently looking for a couple of eager ladies who would enjoy this experience and be able to be consistently present for Friday morning or others who are open to volunteering their make-up skills prior to the hospital dances that occur in October, December, February, and June.
No expertise is necessary, just a keen interest in working with a variety of ladies and comfort with any of the three areas of hair, make-up, or nail polish. Staff will also be present to assist with the program. If you are interested in sharing the joy of helping others feel good about themselves please pick up an application form or contact Lynn Gray or Janice Van Eaton at Volunteer Services, Centennial Centre at 403-783-7782.