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Orono W.ekIyTIsnes, Wednesday, P.bniaîy Z f 9~4 8 Resp ite Care pro gram at, Memorial Dorothy Stewart, co-ordinates Memorial Hospital, Bowmariville. the Respite Care Program at' Memorial Re-ç-spite Care program assist elderly and their caregîivers Caring for an elderly mother would bc in good hands7" suffering from the effects of a Taking a break is important, stroke can bc tough, says Debbie says Dorothy Stewart, nurse Tranter of Orono, but its a lot manager of the hospital's Casier thanks to a helping hand contifluiflg care unit. fromi the Respite Programn at IlCaregivers are under a lot of Memorial Hospital, Bowmanville. stress. If they don't get a break The Respite Programn takes occasionally, they can get burned care of Mrs. Tranter's 78 year-old out and both the caregiver and the mother when Mrs. Tranter and patient could end up in hospital." her husband Tomn take a break The Respite Program is one of from what she describes as a 24- growing number of community, hour a day, seven days a week outreach services provided by job. Memorial Hospital. III love my mother and 'mn Another is called Lifeline, going to take care of hier as long which connects people living at as I can, but it is strenuous," she home with an_ emergency says. 'I couldn't do it without the response centre at the hospital. help of the hospital and a If they have a faîll or feel ili, wonderful husband." they can send a message from an Mrs. Tranter has takenî care of electronic device they wear on her mother for six years. their wrist or around their neck. "The Respite Program is my It's waterproof so they don't need salvation because 1 cani take a to take it off even in the shower break knowing my mom's being or when taking a bath. well taken care of and that At the press of a button, an everyone she needs is there if alarmn immediately goes through anything happens," she says. to the hospital and is answered by 11cr mother stayed in the an operator who returns the cal hospital's continuing care unit and can talk to the person through over Christmas wheni Mr. a speaker phone in the home. Tranter's farnily visited and there If its an emergency, or-the was need for somne "famîly time" person is not in the room with the with son Mark, 19, and daughter speaker phone and contact cannot Becky, 15. be made, the operator notifies 'I feit bad about my mumi medical staff and the ambulance being in hospital over Christmas, service and gets a printout of the even though-,she came out for person's medical history from the Christmas Day," said Mrs. hospital's computer. Tranter. "But I left the hospital "If the situation is serious, WC feeling a lot better because there respond accordingly," saysPat Were three nurses waiting for us Kelly, Lifeine co-ordinator. "But and they told me not to worry if it's not senious and the person about getting hier settled in, that just needs some assistance, we they would take care of notify a neighbor or member of everything." the family living nearby who bas She adds, 'I don't' know what a key and can let themselves in. I'd do without the'hospital's help. There are 90 people on iey're just wonderful and I can't Lifeline. Most are elderly, living s ay enough about them." alone, but some are couples in, The hospital's Respite Program frail health and there's an il year- is also making it possible for old boy wîth sleep apnea who Isabelle Elliott of Bowmanville to sometimes stops breathing when take care of her husband Charlie, asleep. 88, who came out of hospital "His mother knows how to three months ago after hip rouse him when hie stops surgery following a fafl. breathing but she may need help) 'I think the Respite program is ata moments notice," Isays Ms. a very good idea,"' says Mrs. Kelly. Elliott. 'I know that Charlie The Lifeline system was donated by the Bowmanville Lions and Lionesses clubs. It can handie as many as 500 people. Outreach programs at Memorial Hospital also include the preparation of 150 meals a wcek for the Clarington Meals on Wheels service and several educational programs forvictinis of heart attacks and strokes, respiratory ailments and diabetes. The heart and stroke progranl, for example, is run in co- operat ion with the Heart and Stroke Fou ndation. It deals with everything a recovering patient nceds to know, from medication, exercise and nutrition to fitness assessments, stress management and how to stop smoking. "The educational process actually begins while the patient is recovering in hospital and continues for eight weeks after they go home," says Carolyn Lowery, who is in charge of patient education programs. "There are guest speakers, videos and group discussions, which, many people find very helpful because they're usually apprehensive about returning to work or other normal activities." There's also a program for mothers and their newborns, a mammography programn teaching good breast care practices and self-examination techniques and a palliative care program set up recently for the terminally ill and their families. "The palliative cure program allows people to stay at home as long as possible and helps their families with the task of supporting them, which sometimes can be overwhelming," says Chris Kooy, vice-president of nursing services. "We discuss the future, which Asnks Board of Ed for tax freeze for four years Jack Foote, a Campbellcroft- area resident, has written the local board of education asking that they not increase educational taxes this year or for the next four years. 1It was Mr. Foote who last year widely circulated a report he had written showing that the board's spending, excluding capital costs, had increased 39.5 percent between the years of 1989 and 1992., His report also noted that salaries, wages and benefits paid by thé board had încreased by can be several days or several months, and we try to make life as pleasant and bearable as possible. We work in conjunction with the family physi cian and were available 24 hours a day." The palliative care term, includes six doctors and 12 nurses, hospital and community pharmnacists and agencies such as Durham Hospice and Durham Bereavement Services. "Doctors and nurses are assigned to specific patients, who go to the home rather than having the patient make a trip to the hospital, which can be a major task," says Ms. Kooy.ý It's important to provide consistency in caregivers and in the people they meet when they do come into hospital." Richard Elston, president of Memorial Hospital, says the hospital has been increasing the number of community outreach services and forming partnerships with dozens of community health care groups and social agencies 44.5 percent during the samne period. H1e said the inecase represented 88 percent of the total increase which had been approved by the board during the four years. 1Mr. Foote is now suggesting that the board continue the freeze on salaries and benefits for a period of four years although hie would allow inecases to those at the lower end of the pay scale. H1e suggests increases at the lower portion of the scale should only bc made up after reduction at the top of the scale. such as Community Care, Homne Care, Hospice Durham and the AlzheimerSociety of Durhami. "Hospitals used to be a curative system - when you got sick you went to the hospital to get better," he says. "But the institutional provision of health care is being de-emphasized." "The emphasis now is on outpatient care that concentrates on illness prevention and health promotion. We're trying to keep people well, not wait until they need hospital care." Outreach programs will continue to bc expanded at Memorial Hospital and there will be more partnerships with community agencies, says Mn. Elston. "Health cure is being provided in a different way and new and innovative services are being developed," he says. "Memorial Hospital has always been an important part of the community and well continue to be there for the community." 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