Groves Memorial Community Hospital (GMCH) and North Wellington Health Care (NWHC) are proud to introduce the Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP).
HELP is an innovative approach to improving hospital care for older patients.
“Being in the hospital often upsets normal routines of mental and physical activity when patients are coping with illness,” said Kourtney Richardson, NWHC Elder Life Specialist. “This disruption can cause a rapid decline in older adult’s general mental and physical functioning.”
“HELP keeps the mind and body as active as possible in spite of illness, benefiting the patient and promoting recovery” said Laura Stainton, GMCH Elder Life Specialist.
“Patients enrolled into the HELP program by hospital staff will be offered a series of interventions to keep patients oriented to their surroundings, mobile within the limitations of their physical condition, while meeting their needs of nutrition, hydration and sleep,” Stainton said.
“The Waterloo Wellington Local Health Integration Network is funding the HELP program at our hospitals along with six other area hospitals.” said Jerome Quenneville, NWHC and GMCH president and CEO.
“GMCH and NWHC’s Louise Marshall Hospital and Palmerston District Hospital sites are looking for responsible volunteers to aide in the implementation of the HELP program,” Richardson said. “Volunteers will undergo extensive training and once confident and competent of the programs goals and interventions, they will proceed and carry out the daily interventions of the program, with the patients.”
“Volunteers will be providing valuable and meaningful services to a vulnerable population who need and deserve more attention,” adds Stainton. “We plan on providing training and support to a volunteer team who are a big part of this innovative program”
Anyone interested in making a meaningful difference through hands-on interventions with elder in-patients should contact the following:
– for GMCH contact Carmine Paterson at 519-843-2010 ext 3206 or grovesvolunteer@gmch.fergus.net;
– for Palmerston and District Hospital or Louise Marshall Hospital contact Kourtney Richardson at krichardson@nwhealthcare.ca or 519-323-2210 ext 2325
GMCH is a highly respected, rural, acute-care facility providing a wide range of services.
North Wellington Health Care is a regional provider of primary and secondary health services.
