Jason Jaswal, John Scott and Bruce Gabriel look on as MLA Shirley Bond adjusts Spinoza Bear for resident Darryl Wolfe

Prince George, B.C.- Spinoza Bear is most often linked with  children, and in the past, the  stuffed bear, who comes with  recorded  tapes  of soothing music  and talk, has been a positive  factor in  helping children through difficult times.

It will now offer the same comfort to  seniors.

This morning, the Prince George Legion, Branch 43, presented a Spinoza Bear to the complex care unit of  the Gateway  residence.

Northern Health’s Director of Residential Services Prince George, Jason Jaswal, says research has shown Spinoza  Bear can have a positive therapeutic effect regardless of the age of  the person  who  connects with the bear “It can help relax moods and  enhance the quality  of life for those who are on the dementia journey.”  Jaswal says while having a Spinoza Bear available to residents at Gateway has been discussed in the past,  this is the first such bear to  actually arrive at the facility.

Each Spinoza Bear costs about $700 dollars, and the Legion’s John Scott, says he has learned the company making the bear  no longer exists,  so getting more bears may be a challenge.  Scott says he had approached MLA Shirley Bond about the idea of donating the bear to a senior’s facility and she  suggested  it  go to  those at Gateway who are  on  a dementia journey.   Bond says in the past, Spinoza Bear has been given to children to who need comfort and  care “When John and I talked, we thought, there are seniors who need comfort and care as well.”

Bond, Bruce Gabriel and John Scott from the Legion,  as well as  Northern Health’s Jason Jaswel, presented the Spinoza Bear to  Gateway resident Darryl Wolfe.