‘Touch of home’
Western Hospital officially opens new palliative care unit
ALBERTON — Since relocating Western Hospital’s Palliative Care Unit to the opposite end of the nursing floor, it has accommodated more patients than the former unit did in the previous year.
And it all has to do with access, said hospital administrator Paul Young of the facility that was officially opened on Tuesday, along with the hospital’s new hemodialysis unit.
Because the old unit was far removed from the nurses’ station there was a requirement that a family member be in attendance at all times for it to be available, he said.
However, the dialysis unit occupies the former palliative care space and has its own dedicated nursing staff.
Young said a lot of staff, family and community input went into planning the palliative care unit, which has two patient rooms along with two family/ partner in care rooms, a kitchen and washroom facilities with shower stall.
“We need to celebrate the availability of these spaces, so we encourage loved ones to stay and (we) make accommodations to feed you and do your laundry so you don’t need to leave,” said Young, who noted a key consideration is to make the space as homey as possible for both patient and family.
He speaks from personal experience as his father died two months ago after six months in palliative care.
“You get to appreciate pretty quickly in those very long stays what it means to have a space just when you need it to get away or when your loved one needs a break – they need to rest – but you don’t what to leave. So you have a space to go to that’s comfortable.”
Western Hospital was the first facility in P.E.I. to offer palliative care.
“It became embedded in the fabric of care in the region,” said the administrator.
Once the need for new space was communicated to the community, a planning group was brought together to consider what was needed to make the space as homey as possible.
The hospital foundation helped with the costs, and staff purchased what was needed.
“A lot of work . . . went in to identifying what can bring that touch of home into the hospital and create these spaces and to have a dedicated family space that is presented with a sign on the wall that says it’s for you,” Young said.
“It’s all been positive,” said director of nursing Sue Lapierre in describing the response from families.
“They like the space; they like that they are so close to the nurses’ station. They like that they have a dedicated space. They like the fact that they can close the doors off.”
The family rooms have fireplaces, comfortable furniture and pull-out beds, television with recordable programming and that homey feel.
The patient rooms have comfortable furniture, as well as a dinette table where family can have their meals with the patient.
With the new unit located in close proximity to the nurses station, there is no longer a requirement for family to be in attendance around the clock, but they are certainly welcome to stay, Young said.
The space is also close to an outdoor deck, which is available to all users of hospital services. In addition, a family conference room is close by.