Wednesday, July 10, 1991 - North Shore News - 32 in-home care allows clients to iy in familiar environment A LOCAL, non-profit home support organization offers in-home care to individuals recovering from illness or in- jury, to patients in need of palliative care and any indi- vidual requiring assistance with everyday activities. Based on the preinise that there is really no place like home, the North Shore Home Support Ser- vices Society provides a range of Programs to offer round the clock care as needed. Said Barbara Kroon, executive director of the Home Support Services, ‘‘we are starting to see more and more people being cared for in their cwn homes — even in situations where there is serious illness. Hospitals are a great place to be if you require surgery or direct medical attention. However, in addition to this being a costly form of care, we are also realizing that people recover much better in the familiar surroundings of their own home, Not only do they re- cuperate faster but they are hap- pier, toc."’ Said one North Shore resident: “1 have nothing but praise for the home support services and for the homemakers they provided. The homemakers and registered nurses who made it rossible for me to have my husband at home on three-day visits from the hospital were in my opinion, very special peopie.”’ The society’s programs serve an average of 2,294 clients each month on the North Shore. Perhaps the most important is the Homemaker program. Originally sponsored by the Victorian Order cf Nurses, the program provides assistance with personal care needs, meal preparation and household management. Services vary from daily or live-in help to weekly or twice monthly assistance. Financial assistance is available from a variety of government sponsored programs or the service can be provided privately. Said one North Shore senior, *‘! have recently had serious surgery and needed a homemaker when I returned home. | wish to thank the Society so much for enabling hospital patients to have the help necessary upon leaving the nursing facility. “1 know it really gave me peace of mind as I wondered how I would ever manage meals, clean- ing the apartment and caring for myself while in such a weakened state. I am 75 years old and would prefer to live independently as long as possible.’” The following is a_ short description of other programs of- fered by the North Shore society. ¢ The Home Nursing Program provides care for people needing Registered Nursing services in the home (usually following acute ill- ness, or for terminally il pa- tients). * The Respite Program offers companionship to isolated seniors, and relief to family members who are charged with the constancy of care for a loved one. The increase in Alzheimer’s THE BUILDING IS COMING DOWN WE HAVE TO MOVE ALL DINING Yo ROOM SETS PRICE * On new sets only Choose from Glass, Brass and Wood Sets Open Friday nights & Sunday 12-4 p.m 1402 Marine Drive West Vancouver 922-1204 photc submitted THIS CLIENT of the non-profit North Shore Home Support Services Society enjoys a chat with her homecare worker. Disease is placing an incredible strain on families in the communi- ty. The respite program allows caregivers to have the time to relax, and helps prevent family burnout. * The Congregate Meal Pro- gram provides hot evening meals and social programs to seniors. eThe Home Emergency Response System provides a response program for hore use. A simple alert device is used to signa! to a central monitoring sta- tion located ai either Lions Gate Hospital, or the Home Support office. The station is staffed 24 hours a day, and an emergency response team can arrive to help clients within minutes. The number of seniors living on the North Shore is expected to in- crease by 40% over the next 10 years, so programs offered by the Home Support Services will play an even more important role in the future. For more information, call Hilary King, program coordinator at 984-9511. - In-home support is also offered by private agencies. See the home support advertisements in this feature for information. The New Crofton Manor Is Not One of the Residential Hotels Lived In by the Rich and Famous... wit Just Feels Like One. But don’t just take our word for it. Come see for yourself why The New Crofton Manor is Vancouver's finest retirement residence. Call Fern. Susan or Joyce for a personal tour and discover the luxury of retirement living at The New Crofton Manor. CROFTON MANOR Retirement loving as iu shoutd be 2803 West 41st Avenue, Vancouser, B.C. VON 4B PHONE (604) 263-0921