Chaplain's Corner

Our new government has promised to build more PCHs. Anyone who has been involved in any major building project knows that building a personal care home takes time. We are all hoping that by the end of the first term that our Premier’s promise has found its way into actual PCH beds.

Maybe you don’t know why we need more personal care homes. Let me tell you about Hank (names and details disguised in respect of PHIA regulations). Hank had been a resident in the region all his life. He grew up on a farm, raised a family with his wife Betty and worked hard all his life. Hank retired and enjoyed some great years then his health broke; Hank had a stroke.

After a short time on a medical unit Hank was moved to the Rehab unit: daily physiotherapy, hard work, towards the goal of regaining the use of his right side. It had been a bad stroke; he did regain his speech, but not much of the function in his right arm and leg. After three months on the Rehab unit the staff concluded that there was nothing more that could be done in Rehab to improve Hanks function. The focused changed to what would be next.

There were some attempts to get Hank home, but Betty’s own health and the layout of the home just made that unworkable. After another two months in the hospital Hank and Betty agreed to paneling. Hank’s name was added to the waiting list for admission to a personal care home.

It was now six and a half months since Hank had the stroke. The hospital has a number of beds that it designates “awaiting placement beds”. Hanks bed is so designated and time passes. Of course, as all this has been happening to Hank, others have had strokes or had come into the hospital unable to return to their homes and the number of people awaiting placement in the hospital had risen to eight. Half of these beds are needed for medical patients and new Rehab patients so the decision is made to move Hank to an empty bed in Morris as he continues to wait for a PCH bed in Steinbach. Others like Hank were moved to other facilities in the Region.

Hank and Betty are struggling with the Morris placement. Betty still drives, but has never done much than drive to the grocery store or down town to shop. On top of that, winter is has arrived and Morris is a long drive. The months ticked by, eight, ten, a year passed. Now, if Hank were a box of supplies, it really wouldn’t matter if he sat on a shelf for months on end or got moved from warehouse to warehouse until the supplies were needed. But Hank is a person; each of these decisions and moves takes a toll on his body and mind. The separation from family, friends and community has now impacted Hanks mental health. After thirteen months of waiting, Hank just sits and stares out the window of his room in Morris. There’s not much that captures his attention or interest anymore, he feels broken and discarded and talks a lot about just wanting to die.

Some might say, well, he’s being fed and cared for, the staff are friendly and the facility adequate, what more can Hank expect? What Hank needs is dignity. It is bad enough that the stroke impacted his dignity but feelings of worthlessness and being displaced, the brokenness of his body and now his mind: Hank declines. The system is doing the very best it can. None of the decisions that have led to this moment were made carelessly or without thought for Hank’s best interests. No one is to blame, the simple fact is – we need more PCH beds.