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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1973-05-03, Page 15TO irrjcij SIGNAL ramlcs is a very popular pastime for the older people the hospital. Here a gentleman is demonstrating how to ur moulds which come out as fine looking decorating During the past few --years, concepts of what a mental in- stitution is and does Nye changed drastically— Once thought of as dark hailed establishments with- barred windows these institutions are now seen as bright cheerful surroundings with the ultimate goal of patient rehabilitation. The Goderich Psychiatric Hospital located about three miles south of Goderich on Highway 21 has an average ad- mission rate of 60 patents per month as - compared to the original rate of, 80. According to Dr. M. Conlon administrator, over 50 percent of the patients are under care voluntarily. The number of patients in the hosnital «in the upholstery shop of the hospital, old or used furniture gets 'new life given to it by he man); talented hands that work here. Profits from the operation are divided up and •Istributed among the participating patients. By Wilma Oke $12,019,586 Huron nty Board of Education get for 1973, which was d in a committee -of -the,:, le meeting on April lg owing 4the regular session, • made available to the press April 25. At the request of news correspondent on il 26 the requisitions from municipalities in the county h 1972 figures in brackets, provided by the Superin- dent of Business Affairs, Dunlop. linton, $119,950 ($120,174); eter, $170,598 ($170,378); 'erich, $397,901 ($326,792); forth, $77,864 ($80,882); ngham $142,882 ($149,023); Yfield, $40,752 ($37,333); yth, $25,832 ($27,596); ssels, $32,074 ($33,147); nsall, $54,900 ($55,864); rich, $24,370,($23,599. shfield Township, $124,632 19,247); Colborne Town. 84c ($82,467); erich Townsetp, $1T6,099 15,713); Grey Township, 07,832 ($106,538); Hay flhip$161,036 ($150,698); *kit Township, $138,779 3448); Hullett Township, 367 (S95,131). tKillop Township, $66,780 ($80,234); Morris Township, $80,789 ($81,287); Stanley Township, $12A 030 ($117,157); Stephen Township, $197,439 ($189,688); Tuckersmith Town- ship, $1518,184 ($104,307); Tur- nberry Township, $63,204 ($62,027); Usborne Township, $103,280 ($99,633); West Wawanosh TownshiP, $48,655 ($48,052); day observation is about four percent, the lowest in the province. As a person is admitted, he or she may go to any number of wards depending largely on the advice of the family physician. In a severe case the person may be placed in the Intensive Care Unit where there is a higher percentage of staff per patient to ensure better care. The average stay in this unit is a week to ten days. From this ward the patient may then go to 1B a ••progresSiVe care ward. The patient then is allowed to wear their own clothes instead of hospital garb and is generally givep more responsibility. At this point, the unit team system begins operation. This team of professional people Iconsists of a psychiatrist, physiologist, social worker and nurse. The needs of the , patient are closely examined and discussed by the team. A key factor in the rehabilitation •process is the motivation of the patient. He or she must want to recover and take part in a normal existanCe. In the treatment of patients, Dr. Conlin stated that '-we try to be realistic as to what the patient will encounter outside and try to prepare them for the real world. Other wards that a • patient may encounter depen- ding ..on their own significant problems are the Adult Active Treatment, Alcoholic and Drug Addiction ward. Child and Family Care and the Psycho - Geriatrics unit. The hospital has only recen- • tly been recognized by the Ministry of Labour as a type of trade school. Some patients can receive job training right on the premises in such areas.as hair- dressing, sewing, furniture refinishing or upholstery. Dr. Conlin commented that in- dustries in the area have been most co-operative in aiding the hospital in their rehabilitation work by giving former patients and out patients jobs. • Gone is the old concept of oc- cupational therapy as a means of keeping the. so called "helpless case" contented with weaving briskets and cutting Paper dolls. In its place is a new awareness—of 'swork therapy" as a means of assisting the patient in re- establishing his or her self- reliance, confidence and dignity. Dr. Conlin believes "it is a communication with the patient through the medium of work." The capable patients work according to a regular schedule for about five hours each day and are paid -according to their capacity to produce, as they would be in a competitive work system outside the institution. Dr. Conlin sees patient par- ticipation as a means of breaking the patient's depen- dency on the institution and the more formalized approach to institutional treatment. According to Dr. Corin, 'when the hospital was . first opened in 1962, long term patients 'accounted for 95 per- cent of • the hospital's population. The problem of the secon- dary illness of in- stitutionalization which oc- curred after six months, in the hospital, was Often greater than .,the original illness for which the patient was admitted. It -is now estimated that the average stay in hospital is from four to six weeks largely due to more modern methods of treating patients. The most noticeable example of community existence and patient involvement is the In- dustrial Therapy. Department In this large department, goods are produced Shich range from handsome leatherette tote bags to aprons, decorated'plates and soap cakes. Stuffed animals, fabric handbags, wall hangings and . drink -glass coasters are also made. Clothing and accessories, home decorations as well as ,handiwork and craft articles are produced in large bus)' workshops where patients are and East Wpwanosh Township, $65,687 ($63,459). The budget indicates that educatiqn cogs in Huron will increase by $398,262 during the calendar, year 1973. This will result in an average increase of 2.1 mills for the county ratepayers. The budget calls for expen- (continued on page 2A) Mrs. Linda Freeman acom- panied Jean Ross and family of Stratford on a lovely trip to New Brunswick. While there they visited friends and Linda says, the people there are so friendly, and .they made you feel so much at home. The weather with just great while they were travelling and the scenery was beautiful. They travelled by car 'through Mon- treal. Linda also celebrated her birthday and their friendshad a birthday cake and a party for her. ome from and everyone hopes he will soon be able to be out and around again. Don Johnston isAin school in Hamilton for a few weeks studying more on refrigeration. Howard Sproul, Mrs. Ilene Sillib 'and Mrs. Louise McWhinney travelled to Detroit last week to attend the funeral. of Howard's brother, Andrew Sproul. Wilfred Sproul, of Oshawa also went to the funeral with Howard. permitted to work at their own pace under the direction of skilled supervisors. Othe4,4ervices include a hustling furniture restoration department where such items as bureaus, desks, chairs, and other pieces of home furniture are rebuk re -upholstered or refinished for private in- dividuals or on a consignment basis for used furniture dealers. The workers are paid weekly and are encouraged to •keep their own bank accounts. All profits of the Industrial Therapy program are returned directly to the participating patients additions to the recreation facilities are the tennis courts and a golf course. In the future Recreation Director Tom Wor- thington Stated that an indoor pool is much needed for both thetapv and recreational pur- poses. The, atmosphere is very im- portant to the treatment of the patients. In this large modern building • the atmosphere is bright and cheerful and not at all gloomy like the concepts of old. The rooms are cheerful, facilities immaculate, workshops well organized and laid out and the offices friendly • and efficient, Only now is the value of the hospital and the community working together being fully realized. Dr. Conlin expressed a sincere appreciation to the com- munity for the acceptance and approval it has shown the hospital. However, the well -made products and the carefully per- formed services of this program are not as important as the program itself which forms an essential ingredient in the process of re-establishing the patient into a normal com- munity role. A very important part of rehabilitating these patients to returning to the .'community is to provide 'them with a physical outlet through recreation. Recreation aids in fulfilling their physical need to be active as well as their psychological jleedsl'of self -gratification that they are accorfplishing something. The purpose of the recreation program directed by Tem Wor- thington is to treat the patient in steps. Often when a patient enters the hospital, he or she . seems to withdraw theirself and the first step must be to reintegrate them so that they feel a part of activities. After this is accomplished, the sffient must he encouraged and made to feel' that he has been accepted and, approved. Preventive measures are then taken to ensure that the patient doesn't slip hack into depression, The final step in the recreation program is to re- educate the patient in using his free time usefully after his release from .hospital. A large nuMber of recreation activities are available to —patients of all wards. Many team sports are played such as volleyball, baseball, . floor hockey, relay races, soccer, basketball and bowling. There are also various in- dividual activities to take part in which build up the patient's ;body and also his ,self- confidence. Some of these- are: -weightlifting, tumbling, yoga, exercises, and boxing. Two new A most important step tc of responsibility to tho using,a band -law while repairing of furniture. Is the assessment a worker is busy to be used in the Director of Recreation for the Goderich Psychiatric Hospital Tom Worthington is currently • spending a lot of time instructing tennis as the hospital has just built courts. A golf course is also underway. The Mite Division of the Goderich Minor Hockey System took home their share of trophies from the annual Minor Hockey Banquet hold last Thursday April 26 at the 8111 ford Valley Hall. Loft to right David MacDonald (runner up Houseloague trophy) David Galiow (most improved player), Mlke Moriarty (most improved -goalie) Tim Lassaline (championship) and Greg Lapaine and Tim Shsardown hold the first in league play trophy.