Duane Hicks
Respite care gives caregivers a break from their responsibilities while their adult family member temporarily is cared for in a long-term care home.
At Rainycrest, respite care has been made more pleasant than ever now that the Rainycrest Family Council has redecorated the east-wing respite room—one of the two respite rooms there.
The council recently gave it a makeover, with furnishings to give it a comfortable, “homey” feel.
They did this using monetary donations made in memoriam, as well as furniture donated by the community.
For example, Dave Legg and family donated the TV stand and television, Green’s Countrywide helped with the easy chair, Pharmasave contributed with some of the decor, and Roma Madill did various sewing projects for the room.
“This is really helpful for caregivers,” said family council member Renee McDonald, who, along with Grace Roy, showed off the room during a tour Friday.
“Even at my age, I get tired,” she chuckled, adding she doesn’t know how older caregivers can do it.
McDonald noted the renovated respite room is ”cheerful,” which gives peace of mind for the person staying there and the caregiver leaving them there.
Rainycrest has two respite rooms, and the family council hopes to make over the west-wing one in the near future.
The sick bays at Rainycrest also need attention and as funds become available, the family council would like to work on those rooms, too.
Any help from the community would be gratefully accepted.
As mentioned above, the respite rooms give caregivers a place for a loved one in their care to temporarily stay and be cared for if that caregiver has to go out of town into the hospital, or otherwise needs a break from their responsibilities.
The service can be used for a few days (such as a weekend), a week, or up to 30 days at a time.
Respite is arranged through the North West Community Care Access Centre (CCAC), and is available for anyone 18 years of age or over.
There is a minimal daily fee for respite services.
If you or someone you know could benefit from respite services, call the North West CCAC at 274-8561.
In the past year, the Rainycrest Family Council also has worked with the town to put wheelchair-friendly curbs on the streets around Rainycrest, put an information centre in Mill Square to help gather pertinent information in one place for residents and their families, and got computer equipment for a computer lab in the activation centre.
As well, it worked with the local Cabin Country Quilt Guild to make a welcome package for each new Rainycrest resident, and worked closely with administration and staff at the home.
Anyone who would like to get involved with the Rainycrest Family Council can attend their meetings, which are held every third Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in the activation centre, or call Barb Duguay (274-3353).
