WESTLOCK - Another large donation by the Westlock Healthcare Auxiliary to the Westlock Continuing Care Centre was used to purchase several pieces of equipment to make residents’ daily life a little easier for residents and staff.
Members of the group got together upstairs at the continuing care facility Jan. 29, to take a look at some of the equipment their $14,845.45 donation was able to purchase including two new electric beds, a shower trolley, an electric vitals machine, two blanket warmers, one Snoezelen cart and several pairs of hip saver pants.
Another $30,600 will follow to help cover the costs of the equipment.
Healthcare auxiliary president Stella Weber said the group is always happy to see their donations, which come as a result of sales at the gift shop as well as memorial and other private donations, go to such good use.
“The money we raise all stays in the community and at two facilities, the hospital and here,” she said after everyone got a look a the new equipment and heard how it’s going to be used.
In a way, she said, the ladies raise the money for the facility and the residents who are currently there, but also for future residents, which may very well include themselves in coming years.
First floor care manager at the Continuing Care Centre, Kim Kramer, explained how each piece of new equipment will be used at the facility, after thanking the assembled crowd of auxiliary members on hand for the cheque presentation that morning.
“Last year with your donations, we got two beds,” she told the group. “This is a Stryker model bed that has an alarm built into the bed. For some of the residents who are at high risk for falling, when they’re in the bed we just turn on the alarm and when they stand up, the bed rings and our staff are alerted.”
This adds an additional layer of safety for residents as staff can come make sure they don’t fall when they get out of bed.
The addition of more hip saver pants, which are essentially an undergarment with cushioned hip areas, makes it possible for residents to remain independent in the washroom, as removing them is more convenient than the separate pieces that used to be worn.
A new vital signs machine was also “extremely needed,” said Kramer.
“We are so appreciative for it. It’s quick, which is nice for our residents because they don’t have to have a slow machine constantly on their arms,” she said.
The addition of another shower trolley was also welcomed by staff and residents and will benefit residents by helping them sit up unassisted during a bath and give more time before they need to use a bed bath, said Kramer.
“It’s just another option and it’s used almost daily. It’s lovely,” she said.
The blanket warmers are also quite well-used and provide a certain comfort especially for new residents.
“Things are kind of nervous and scary and there is nothing more comfortable at night than being wrapped up in a warm blanket, so it’s very much appreciated,” said Kramer.
