Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1976-07-29, Page 14sen patients. ;ens and han- ; s Iln Huron siting from a program called pine,. a.re." The Ontario Association of Earn.ily Home - Care Workers, which .hove a branch office in Clinton:. provide .health care at home"'to selected patients as an alternative to hospital. core and allows the hospital stay of some patients to be shortened. The eligibility of each patient is determined by home -care personnel with the following criteria. The patient must be under medical supervision and be covered by O.H.I.P. The patient must have needs that cannot be dealt with on an out-patient basis but can be treated adequately with the services available through home -care. Furthermore the patient must have a home that is physically suitable for the maintenance of adequate care, and his or her family rims -The willing to participate in the home -etre program. Among the advantages of home -care is a home setting, in which the patient often feels more comfortable and content. Such an atmosphere frequently stimulates the patient to seek increased !Xtivity' and independence. addition, the **Pita,. made ava lable ' fo,r stimeo1 who is acutely lit or requires more intensive treatment. - t ornecare is an active treatment program on a short-term basis with r - vices . provided by a team of Health Care Professionals. The professional services include nursing through the V.O,N.. physiotherapy, oc- cupational therapy and speech therapy. The guxiliary benefits consist of hot rte -making for a maximum of 80 hours, meals - on -wheels, drugs, dressings and medical supplies, equipment on loan, diagnostic and laboratory services and transportation in extenuating circumstances. Most of the above depar- tments are self-explanatory, but home • making entails more than its name implies. it is an in-home care training program approved .by the Ontario Ministry of Colleges.... and Universities and by the Family Home -Care Workers of Ontario. A three-month home- making course. which is available at Conestoga College in Vanastra, may be studied through Canada Manpower. Approximately 73 Huron County women have received their diplomas from the college, and about 30 are 19 ;..:now working full-time. in the future. however, the, home► makers may be required to write a .provincial exam and to work for a minimum atone year before receiving their licence. The course includes an outline of illnesses that range from croup to heart attacks. The students learn how to prepare special diets and nourishing meals, how to teach mothers about nutrition and how to operate on a budget. They are trained in the care of infants. accident or stroke patients, the ter- minally pi and the physically disabled=, and they study rehabilitative and therapeutic procedures. Thi also hear lectures from doctors, nurses, a psychologists, therapists and social workers and read books on topics. such as psychology and infant care. Besides the classroom studies, the home -makers spend three weeks visiting pyschiatric hospitals, day- care centres, nursing homes and retarded nurseries, schools and adult centres. Both privately -owned and government -operated facilities are toured to discover the difference between the two. After successfully com- pleting the course. a home- maker is assigned to a patient Homemaker Elsie Johnston of Bayfield hands two day old Tana Marie, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Geiger of Zurich to her mother. Mrs. Geiger had her baby in the Exeter Hospital and then had permission to go home with her, as long as a homemaker was there. Mrs. Johnston will be with the Geiger family until Friday. Eighteen month old Benjamin sits next to his mom and new sister. (News -Record photo) • through home -care. The type of cases she will 'handle varies from heart or stroke patients tti.expectant mothers or bedridden mothers with young children ,to accident rehabilitative patients or the elderly. More surgical patients and patients with terminal illnesses are now benefitting from the home- making program as well. At the end of the first day with each new patient, tete home -maker reports .by phone to her home-eare supervisor, and each wweek she submits a written ac- count. She always wos under the direction of a V.O.N., a liason nurse at the hospital, a doctor or a therapist. Together the health team strives for the well- being of the patient. What role does the home- maker play in this heath team? Her contribution gees tar beyond light housecleaning, such as laundry and ironing. She performs personal care for her patient; for example, By Rena Caldwell Mr. and Mrs. Ray Consitt holidayed in the western provinces and attended the Calgary Stampede. Mr. and Mrs. R. J McGregor have returned from a tour of the Maritimes, Montreal and the eastern United States. Mr. and Mrs. Ron Rumble,. Toronto, visited with relatives in the area. Visitors during the past week with Mr. and Mrs. W. L, Mellis were: Mr. and Mrs. Tom Burke, Wroxeter ; Mr. and Mrs. G. Anderson, Livonia. Mich.. and Mr. and Mrs. Bill Gibson, Listowel. Mr. Ed. McBride visited his daughter Mrs. Steve Pine in Sault Ste Marie last week. RILEY'S BARBER SHOP ISAAC STREET Will be Posed AUG. 1 - 14 REOPEN AIJG. 16 Mist* **** Suncoost Moll * * GODERICH * *. OPEN MONDAY, AUG. 2 Buy now and we can give you tremendous savings on panelling. Come into our stores and see the selection but be sure to SHOP EARLY to obtain the best selection We sell the quality you wont of prices you'll love. BUlLDING SUPPLIES Clinton 4487-3405 Seofarth 527.090 Wensall 262-248 AY feeding and bed baths. and she assists the rehabilitative Patient with exercises prescribed by a physical, occupational or speech therapist. She assumes -full or partial responsibility for infant, Child. youth.' adult and elderly. She carries out household management and maintains a wholesome at- mosphere in her patient's home- Because the home- maker spends more time with the patient, the latter relates to her and often mentions little things he or she forgets to telt the doctor or nurse. The home -maker immediately reports these details to her medical supervisor along with any changes that she detects . in the patient's physical or mental condition. A home -maker's manual defines her role this way: "A home -maker helps to maintain and preserve the family environment with both home -making and personal. care, when an individual or family's physical or mental well-being is threatened, disrupted or is being rehabilitated." The qualifications of a home -maker are lengthy. A genuine interest in people is one prerequisite, but the home -maker must also. common sense, initiative in non -organized situations and a good sense of humour. She must be punctual, courteous, reliable and experienced in cooking, cleaning,,,cliild care and meal planning.' ' - - Moreover, she must practice confidentiality, tolerance and patience. She must be able to adapt to all kinds of situations. because she must adapt to her patient instead of expecting her patient to adapt to her. The • most important qualifications, though, is her acceptance that each in- wdividual. regardless of personal factors. has worth as a human being and is entitled to respect. Why do - home -soak tackle such a demanding job?.s Many of them wanted to become nurses when they were -younger. For one reason or another they couldn't achieve their dream. but being a home -maker allows them to fulfill their personal need to:help.others. One hoi'ne-maker explains why she especially enjoys working with stroke patients, "Seeing the first movement and how much it means to them gives me personal satisfaction. Being a home- maker,- she adds, "is challenging and satisfying, and the rewards can't be measured in dollars and cents." The home -maker and the patient aren't the only ones that benefit from the home- care program. The patient's family is also affected. For example, the daughter of a terminally ill patient confided to her mother's home -maker. "It means so much to all of us to have Mom at home." The family participates in the care of their mother, doing things for her that they can't do in the hospital. Home -makers are in great demand in Wingham, where the association sees a rise in the need for live-in ap• plicants. They also note in- creased inquiries about home -making from other Huron towns. They feel they would be in even, greater demand, if more people realized their service can be obtained privately as well as through home -care. Homemaker, Lucy Demers of Clinton, helps Louis Carbert also of Clinton, wjth exercises. Nil'. Carbert is paralysed on the right side of his body. (News -Record photo) In all. of Huron County,` interest- is growing in home- making and 'in the whole homecare program. In fact. the annual meeting of the Ontario Association of home care workers, usually held in Ottawa. will take place in Huron this y?ar. at Conestoga College in Vanastra from September 25 to '_'S. The home -makers. the therapists. the V.O.N.s. the supervisors, and the other me'nihe-rs of the home -care staff provide an alternative to hose:tai care for selected patients They supervise the patients in-home recuperation, and as a result, hospitaI beds are made •'' nIable for the more seriously ill During this time sof hospttal cutbacks.,"hom_e- c•arp•. fills a vital need in the health rare plan. positively ends Aug. 6, 1976 AND z. GET 5 2 ISSUES OF THE for only Which includes The Bayfield Bugle $8.15 1, SAVE s2.O5 ON THE REGULAR SUBSCRIPTION PRICE OF 511 00 PER YEAR If you act now (before August 6, 1976) you'll receive the Nears -Record for one full year for only f8:'S. Subscription extensions of one year are eligible for the s8.'s price till August 6 also! NAME ADDRESS — TOWN POSTAL CODE PLEASE PRINT +Ws owl New Subscription Subscription Extension Enclosed please find my S8 95 payment for 51 issues of the Clinton News -Record SIGNATURE PLEASE MALI, TO (UNTO R NEWS.BECORO, BOX 39 - CUNTON, ONT.