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Quinte Health Center and Alzheimer Society Hastings Prince-Edward have announced a new partnership that will help emergency room patients living with dementia get help.
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Beginning January 16, Lorraine Ross, First Contact Care Navigator, will join the emergency department team at Belleville General Hospital and Trenton Memorial Hospital to connect patients with local support services.
Quinte Health will be the second hospital in Ontario to participate in this pilot program run by the Alzheimer’s Society, according to a media release issued by Quinte Health Care and the Alzheimer’s Society HPE on Monday.
Approximately 5,000 people in the Hastings-Prince Edward area are living with dementia, and connecting these people and their families with appropriate support can both improve quality of life and prevent trips to the emergency room.
“Providing support to the person living with dementia and their partner now, as well as providing them with tools and resources when they return home, are some of the main aims of this initiative,” said Ross, who will be working weekdays as an integrated member of the emergency department team.
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The goal of this initiative, according to the Alzheimer’s Society, is to help people stay at home as long as possible and improve their quality of life.
“We know that with every person there is at least one care partner, sometimes more,” explains Angela Merav, Alzheimer Society HPE executive director, in the media release. “The earlier we can get into someone’s life and walk alongside them on their journey, connecting them to community services, it helps them stay at home longer, which is usually where people want to be.” We are very keen to make that immediate connection.”
Nicole Valad, director of critical care, emergency, community and rural services at Quinte Health Care, says this project will not only improve the lives of people with dementia but provide training for healthcare staff, it will also ease the pressure on health care system and reducing emergency visits.
“”It is an opportunity to avoid hospital admission, which takes the individual out of the comfort and familiarity of their home. Staying at home is best for the patient, best for the caregiver and best for the healthcare system at a time of significant stress. Lorraine brings with her the tools and ability to provide this enhanced care to keep patients in the most comfortable environment. She will be a support and mentor to the staff as well,” Valade said in the media release.
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