Marianhill staff Michelle and Alyssa are ready to once again greet guests to the recently reopened Dementia Respite Unit.
Local families caring for the elderly are getting some good news from Marianhill Long-Term Care Home in Pembroke.
They’ve let myFM know that their Dementia Respite Unit is once again taking guests for the first time since the pandemic.
Formerly known as the McClusky Centre, the DRU offers geriatric assessment and respite care for people living with early to moderate dementia or cognitive impairment for up to 90 days per calendar year.
Staff at Marianhill are trained in dementia care and will allow families the benefit of knowing their loved ones are well cared for so that they can take a break to care for themselves.
Located at their facility at 600 Cecelia Street in Pembroke, their custom-designed unit features an activity area, lounge, dining room, outdoor patio, and private resident rooms. Guests are provided with specialized daily activities that, as the long-term care home says, “stimulate the brain, exercise the body, and nurture the soul.” Friends and family are welcome to visit at any time.
While a change of place can be stressful for those living with dementia, Community Services Manager Joanna Chisnell says that Marianhill staff “make every effort to ensure guests and their advocates have the support they need to make life more manageable.”
DRU care is $50 per day, with ODSP recipients able to access the service at a reduced rate. To be eligible for DRU care, guests must be able to follow basic instructions, bathe and dress with limited support, and be mobile and able to transfer with the assistance of one staff member.
(written by Kasey Egan)
