Beginning Fall 2010
Long Term Care Handi-van
Central Peace Health Complex
Spirit River Alberta
IT'S HERE!!!
The Long Term Care Handivan has arrived, just 14 months after fund-raising began. Bus rides for residents start this afternoon!
Thank you, everyone!
Read about it here.For more information please contact Judy Brown.
Phone:(780) 864-3608.Fax:(780) 864-3608 e-mail judybrown@robbtech.com
Project kick-off artricle, from the Central Peace Signal:
Project Van-Go
Health and Science by Judy Brown
The Central Peace Health Complex Long Term Care is in desperate need of a new handi-van to transport the residents on outings. The current handi-van was inherited from JB Woods Nursing Home in High Prairie when they got a brand new van. It is an old, worn van and has passed inspection for only another few months with restrictions on how far it can go. It has been well used to take the seniors on drives, picnics, to Rycroft for pie and coffee and to events in the communities.
As shut-ins at the hospital these seniors have no other way to get out and enjoy the world. To be able to be part of society outside the confines of the hospital adds an incredible element of interest and enjoyment to their lives: to look at the crops in spring, to revisit well-loved spots and just get out and about is important to their health and happiness. Their health, wellness and quality of life is greatly improved by stimulation, change in environment, movement, interest and fresh air.
Most of these seniors are wheelchair bound and some spend most of their day in a Broda chair. These are very large special chairs designed for support and comfort. One or both of the resident’s legs may be raised and so stick out in front. It just is not possible to transport this kind of chair in a regular wheelchair accessible van unless there is only one passenger.
Currently, the recreation staff tries to arrange at least one outing a week. Weather, wellness and other considerations greatly affect planning when dealing with such frail passengers and require a flexible schedule. The handi-van needs to be available when conditions are right for a trip. This essentially precludes sharing a van with another facility.
The government and Alberta Health Services do not provide vans to long term care residences although there may be grants available to help. Residence committees and communities are responsible for raising the funds if they want to provide their long-term care seniors with transportation.
A new handi-van will last for about twenty years. At any one time there are fifteen to twenty long-term care residents at the hospital. That means that over twenty years a great number of elders will benefit. Take a look at your family. Is there a grandma, grandpa, mother, father, aunt, uncle, husband or wife who may possibly be a resident in long-term care some time in the next twenty years? Picture the added dimension that a van could make to a loved one of your own as he or she ages and needs specialized care away from home.
The thought of being without a handi-van to give our oldest community members these opportunities brings tears to their eyes and to mine. Thus we have decided to raise money for a new handi-van through a fundraising project called the Van-Go Project. A new wheelchair accessible handi-van built to the needs of the long-term care residents will cost approximately $80,000 to $90,000 but we are confident that with the help of the area communities we can do it. We are planning a community event in the fall to officially kick off the fund raising. The event will include an art auction/sale of some kind, hence the wordplay on Project Van-go. However, the lifetime of the current van is almost at an end. The sooner we can get a new one the less time the residents will have to do without.
We are grateful for any donation toward the handi-van no matter how large or small and will publicly acknowledge any help we get. We also plan to put the names of every group or individual that donates $1,000 or more on the outside of the van (unless they choose otherwise) to celebrate our achievement as a community.
If you would like to contribute to this worthy cause you may make a donation at any time. Please make your cheque payable to Central Peace Health Complex and direct it to Project Van-Go. Please make any donation directly to Central Peace Health Complex but please specify that it is for Project Van-Go.
For more information please contact Judy Brown.
Phone:(780) 864-3608.Fax:(780) 864-3608 e-mail judybrown@robbtech.com