“These “patients” would fill only about -

half of the proposed 40-bed complex. At the
- time, though, it was fair to assume there
were a number of people somehow living in
the community who in reality were in need
of supportive housing as well. :
Jt may now be appropriate to place a

real number on that latter assumption.

Perhaps a real number would help politi-

‘

_ To this end, a few letters from taxpayers

who would benefit if the project were to
proceed might help.' These letters might be
written by friends, relatives or prospective
residents themselves. It would help the
society attach "real" names to their sup-

portive housing ‘proposal, and that just =
_ might tip the scales of simple logic 1 in our
favour.

‘cians break the never-ending circuitous
cycle of ministry pass-offs and receptions i in
Victoria. © |

[NATIONAL Nurses’ WEEK, MAY 11-17]

Doris Mitchell: a real commitment to long term care.

- Ted Strachan

A CARING |
LIFESTYLE
Terraceview nurses are
part of the residents’ lives

_ Terraceview Lodge, located on the bench on
North Sparks, houses extended care and intermedi-
ate care residents. According to administrator Doris
Mitchell, the two facets are fully integrated and the
same staff rotates throughout the facility. :

Six nurses work at Terraceview on a full-time
basis. Although all the full-time nurses are Regis-
tered Psychiatric Nurses, some Registered Nurses
also work there, on a casual basis. All of the full-time
nurses have been at Terraceview for a long time, in

fact four of them transferred over from the old -

Skeenaview facility. Mitchell says she believes that
shows a real commitment to long term care on behalf

of the staff. |

At least one nurse is on duty at Terraceview at
all times, working as a team with the rest of the staff
to ensure’a high quality of resident care, The most

‘important objective at Terraceview, says Mitchell, is

the quality of life for the residents.
’ While most of the direct care of residents is done

by the health care workers, the nurses also work

directly with residents. They are the ones who deal
with emergencies, make the decisions on medical
care, and work with the doctors. They dispense the
medication at the doctor’s direction, and that gives
them an opportunity to know the residents. Mitchell
says it is important for all the staff at Terraceview,
including the nurses, to know all the residents on a
personal basis.
Terraceview is regularly looking for volunteers to

visit with the residents, on the premises or to take

them for outings. Anyone who would like to spend
time with Terraceview residents should contact the
Volunteer Bureau. —

| , — Diana English

Terrace Review — May 15, 1992 Bi