The Passamaquoddy Lodge Foundation is appealing to the public to help raise $75,000 for much-need items for its care home.
Donne Smith said the foundation’s purpose is to help fill the gaps in funding for items not provided for by the provincial government.
“They are supported and owned entirely by communities,” he said of the Passamaquoddy Lodge. “The government funds most of the costs of the lodges and long term care facilities. But there is a gap, and the foundation was established to help fill that gap, raise money for needed equipment for support for staff and so forth.”
It is an essential part of helping residents get what they need while they live at the lodge.
“A couple of years ago, there was a very significant fundraising effort which resulted in a new palliative care unit,” Smith said in an interview. “There has been outdoor equipment and a patio created as a result of previous campaigns. So, we work very closely together.”
The next set of items on the list is a combined refrigerated and heated mobile food delivery carts. For two of those trays, it costs about $42,000. The carts allow for food to be given to residents at the right temperature, ensuring food safety standards, but also an enjoyable and efficient dining experience for residents.
Yolande Jay said it’s about quality of life for residents.
“Everybody deserves a nice warm meal, and everybody deserves a lettuce that’s not soggy when they have a salad,” she said, saying some residents prefer sleeping a little longer, or might not feel hungry right at meal time.
The lodge is also seeking a Broda chair, which is a chair that assists in moving patients safely. The chairs help reduce the risk of muscle contractions and pressure sores.
“Which is again adding to the quality of life for some of our residents that are a little more acute in their medical needs,” Jay explained.
The final ask from the community is something more on the fun side – a soft serve ice cream machine.
“The residents love ice cream, and when it’s soft serve, it’s not particular to any type of diet,” she said. “This can be given to all residents. It can be made into milkshakes. We can (make) cakes. We can do celebratory ice cream, and we have barbecues all summer long, and the residents really do like their ice cream with their barbecue, so, that was more of a fun ask.”
The lodge is also looking to expand, but has faced obstacles in securing provincial funding. Back in January, a meeting was held to present the plan for a new lodge – that also boosted a new model.
It’s current 60-bed facility is nearly 50 years old and doesn’t suit the needs of it’s residents.
The new lodge will be the “household model” which aims to replace the older model associated with long-term care. It will provide a more home-like atmosphere.
It will have five “homes” with 12 residential rooms in each. All will be single occupancy, according to the lodge’s plan. The existing facility has 20 single rooms and 20 shared rooms.
Smith said he is hopeful there will be some sort of commitment by early next year. Both former Premier Blaine Higgs and current Premier Susan Holt visited the facility, he explained.
“We’re hopeful that the new government will be very helpful in getting us to where we want to be,” he said. “We have been dealing, over the last several months, with the officials within the Department of Social Development. They’ve been very supportive, but we are trying to negotiate the cost model that will make it work.”
People can donate by visiting the Passamaquoddy Lodge website.
Author
