Former resident attests to success of long-term care
Monday October 15, 2007 -- Deron Hamel
Three years after moving into Carveth Care Centre, Donna Latimer has moved back home with improved health and a new outlook.

When Latimer, 72, came to the Gananoque long-term care home in August 2004, she had some health issues and was a fairly quiet woman who kept to herself, says Donna Gibson, who works in the home’s activation department.

But when she walked out of the home Sept. 29, not only had her health made a 360-degree turnaround, she was also a more active, outgoing woman, notes Gibson.

“She’s a totally turned around person,” Gibson tells The Morning Report. “The value of (her stay at Carveth) is that she (went) from being a very quiet person to an outgoing person with confidence.”

Latimer is only one of many success stories of people having their lives changed because of supportive environments found in long-term care homes, says Gibson.

While Latimer always had strong support from her family, others come into long-term care after being on their own for a long time.

However, once these people enter long-term care, they’re surrounded by supportive staff members who encourage them to get involved with activities and to interact with others.

Gibson says Latimer’s success was due to not only a supportive staff at Carveth, but also the immense support she received from her family and the fact she was active.

“She came down for programs (and) she was active in residents’ council,” says Gibson.

Although her health improved well enough for her to leave the home, Latimer says there are many things she’ll miss about life at Carveth, with “the people, both the staff and residents, and singalongs” topping the list.

As a testament to her active nature, Latimer participated in the home’s Terry Fox Walkathon in September to raise money for cancer research. Through her pledges, Latimer raised $167. She says this was her proudest moment while a resident at Carveth.

And what advice does Latimer give to people entering Carveth Care Centre?

“Sleep in now, because you won’t once you get here,” she says.

If your long-term care home would like to share its success stories with The Morning Report, please send an e-mail to deron@axiomnews.ca.