by Jane Wilson,
Special to Canadian Monarchist News

 

HRH Charles, Prince of Wales made a historic visit to Abbeyfield House on his recent visit to Ottawa. Patron of Abbeyfield since 1972, the recently opened Ottawa residence was the first Abbeyfield House to be visited by the Prince outside of the United Kingdom.

Abbeyfield Houses are homes that have been renovated to accommodate the independent, well elderly who do not need the services of a retirement residence or nursing home, but who want to continue to live in a "family environment". Prince Charles himself has said that the media view of the elderly is that they are frail, in poor health, and in need of assistance. Quite the opposite is true, he has observed in speeches as Patron of both Abbeyfield and Help the Aged: older people want to retain their independence and live with dignity, while preserving their health.

 

The Ottawa house currently has seven residents who spent months preparing for the Prince's visit. He arrived shortly before 3 p.m. on Wednesday, April 25 and was met by Robert McMullan, President of Abbeyfield Canada and Lorne Usher, president of Abbeyfield Ottawa. He was then taken on a brief tour of the renovated 100-year-old house in Ottawa's Westboro district. He then sat down to tea with the residents in the sun-filled dining room.

 

As part of his visit during international Volunteer Appreciation Week, the Prince stopped to chat with Abbeyfield Society volunteers. "Do you work to raise money and other things?" he asked one group. They said yes and he smiled. "Never stop," he said.