Incidences of depression, agitation decrease at new Algoma Manor
Residents’ life quality enhanced in new, state-of-the-art LTC home
Monday, August 27, 2012 -- Deron Hamel
Since opening Nov. 1 of last year, the new 96-bed Algoma Manor Nursing Home is seeing fewer incidences of depression and agitation amongst residents, successes which administrator Barb Harten largely attributes to the state-of-the-art home’s new design.

The Thessalon long-term care home is a Class A structure and a nonprofit. The previous Algoma Manor was a 108-bed, Class D municipal home.

With such amenities as private rooms and bathrooms, Harten says residents are enjoying enhanced quality of life at Algoma Manor, which is managed by Specialty Care. The new home features 24 private rooms, 24 semi-private rooms and 48 two-bed rooms. The previous Algoma Manor included shared stalled bathrooms and mostly four-bed rooms, with only a few semi-private rooms.

Harten says the quality enhancement from these upgrades is evident — residents are showing fewer signs of agitation and many are feeling inspired to leave their rooms more.

“We’ve only been here for (nine) months but we’ve noticed a (decrease) in (resident agitation),” Harten tells the Morning Report.

“The other thing we’ve noticed is more privacy and less (agitation) because there are less noise factors, so residents are getting more rest.”

During the design process it was decided to put more windows in the building, “because we found more light reduces depression,” Harten adds.

Algoma Manor’s upgrade to a Class A home falls in line with requirements in the Ontario Long-Term Care Homes Act mandating all new long-term care homes be built to Class A standards and that existing homes must meet at least Class B requirements.

In addition to ministry funding, funding sources, such as northern development grants, were applied for and received, says Harten. The home also found money operationally by maximizing efficiencies, she adds.

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