Elrose Health Care Auxiliary seeks help for $40,000 tub replacement
ELROSE – The Elrose Health Care Auxiliary would like to acknowledge the support of this community, whether through private, business or service group donations. We could not do these projects without your help.
The main goal of the Elrose Health Care Auxiliary has always been to "provide care and comfort items for the residents in this facility." This is their HOME.
Built for comfort, backed by community. Elrose Health Service Manager Abisha Bawa shows off the new bariatric bed the Elrose Health Care Auxiliary helped provide for the Palliative Care Room at the Elrose Long Term Care Centre. Auxiliary members, left to right: Linda Wilson, Shirley Jagow, Chris MacDonald, Kay McKillop, Betty Mae Leavins, Joyce Calwell, Sandy Giles, Bev Riglin, Rose Babyck and Gerry Hammond. Missing: Connie Sothmann. PHOTO SUBMITTED
As the name of the facility has changed over the years (it used to be called The Golden Years Lodge), so have the requests for items needed for the residents.
We still have requests for and donate items such as sheepskin covers for elbows and heels, The Senior and Star Phoenix newspapers, large readable name tags for the staff, and bedding plants for the grounds, to name only a few of the smaller items.
More recently, however, we have had requests for larger items that the budget does not cover. We have taken them on as they are items that bring joy, comfort or even safety to the residents. The lifts and motors that are in every room, thanks to donations from other organizations and us, also benefit the staff. We were one of the first in our area to provide these – in every room.
Other items of note would be the $5,000 downpayment to secure a contractor to replace the broken and unsafe entrance way, the $4,000 purchase of a large 85-inch TV and sound bar for the main room at Christmas, a new shuffleboard, a new power lift chair, a sign at the front of the building with the address, and landscaping and flowers for the grounds.
Our most recent purchase was the bariatric bed for the Palliative Care Room. This bed differs from a regular hospital bed in that it is larger and wider and meant to accommodate any size of patient. The $22,000 bed was purchased with the help of $3,000 from the Elrose Lions and $1,000 from the Elrose Lioness.
It has now come to our attention that the resident tub is currently in need of replacement due to wear and age. As this is a specialized medical unit, the estimated cost of replacement is approximately $40,000.
We have sent letters out to local businesses asking for their assistance with this project as we know we cannot do it on our own. We do realize that the same businesses are asked repeatedly to donate to many of the community's needs, so we welcome private donations as well.
We are hoping even small amounts will add up quickly and this tub can be ordered. Since medical equipment can take a long time to be delivered to the facility, we are trying to be proactive and start the process of getting a bath tub as soon as possible.
We also know that many people are already volunteering for other organizations, but we are asking anyone that would consider joining our auxiliary to please reach out to one of us.
We meet monthly, other than the summer months, and would deeply appreciate your time and help.
The residents and staff do appreciate and benefit from the help we can provide.
Please watch for our upcoming patio set raffle tickets and posters about our fundraising barbecue at the Uniplex on Tuesday, June 9.
Did we mention we are looking for new members?