Overlander Residential Care celebrating 40th anniversary

Overlander Residential Care is celebrated its 40th anniversary this week, recognizing four decades of family with residents and staff.

Interior Health says Sharon Lyall is the last remaining staff member from the early days and, though some concepts in health care have evolved immensely over the last 40 years, the family atmosphere has remained constant as workers continue serving as surrogate family for those who call Overlander home.

“I love my job. I really feel like I make a difference in the lives of the residents I look after,” Lyall said in a press release from Interior Health. “Overlander has been very good to me. It has been my family. It isn’t just a job, it’s a part of my life. If it was just a job, I wouldn’t have been here this long.”

Overlander welcomed its first residents on January 4th, 1977 when the 100-bed facility was know as Overlander Extended Care Hospital. Today, care home has 183 beds with specialized resident-focused care ranging from residential, to palliative, to those with complex and changing behaviours and physical disabilities, says Interior Health.

“Health care has changed over the decades, with more people living at home longer with supports before entering full-time residential care. But places like Overlander still hold an important place in the continuum of care for older adults,” said John O’Fee, Interior Health Board Chair, in a press release from the health authority.

“I’m proud of all the staff, physicians, administrators, auxiliary members and volunteers who work at Overlander and I want to congratulate them on their 40th anniversary of providing care to residents in Kamloops.”