marie walsh

Lorene Walsh, team leader for the community care program, (centre) shows Hospital Auxiliary members Janet Miller (left) and Marie Payne how the electronic palliative care beds can be raised and lowered with the touch of a button. The beds are light weight and come apart for easy delivery to homes where patients need them. With the addition of the four beds donated by the Hospital Auxiliary, Cariboo Memorial Hospital now has nine of the special beds to loan out to patients who chose to spend their final days in their own home.
The Cariboo Memorial Hospital Auxiliary has spent more than $10,000 to purchase a new blood pressure monitor for the hospital and four additional light weight beds for the at-home palliative care program.
The blood pressure monitor came in at a cost of $4,185.14 and the four beds cost another $6,259.50.
The auxiliary was able to raise the funds by operating the hospital gift shop, vending machine and service cart program, along with bake sales and silent auctions.
Nurse Darlene Neels says the new blood pressure machine is much appreciated. “It’s handy. You never lose your thermometer because it is attached. And it rolls nicely and is quiet.”
With the addition of the four beds purchased by the Hospital Auxiliary, the home-based palliative care program now has nine beds which can be loaned to families who need them, says Lorene Walsh, team leader for the community care program.
She says that many people prefer to spend their final days at home rather than in hospital and these beds provide an additional level of comfort for the patients.
The beds can be raised and lowered electronically and the head section can also be raised up and down as needed. There are side safety bars on the beds if they are needed and the mattresses are water resistant.

bclocalnews.com


Tags: ,