Rotary meeting March 1st, 2017

Posted by Trudy Gallant on Mar 02, 2017

Speaker's Corner

We all are pretty familiar with the great service and work that is done

for the elderly and the frail...we see it with our own eyes at Eagle Ridge

Manor. But this work is also being done in many other amazing facitilies

throughout BC. One of our nearest neighbour's in care..is Hawthorne

Lodge in Port Coquitlam and our speakers today helped us understand

so much more about what is happening there..both in terms of care and

also about their current capital campaign.

Mayor Moore has a long standing community relationship with the Port

Coquitlam Senior's Housing Society..the not-for-profit (the are a Society)

that runs the Hawthorne campus as well as other seniors housing in Port

Coquitlam. He has also now had the much more personal connection with

the facility through his own family..a great window onto the caring, family feel

of the facility.

Rita was able to tell us more about what the facility currently offers, what the

needs are and what is behind the proposed improvements. The facility was built

in 1994 as an Extended Care Unit for 75 residents. ( By coincidence..this is the

same year and size as Eagle Ridge Manor!). They are wanting to make

significant changes to the building..converting many semi private rooms to

private rooms, make 4 new lounges, add a secure outdoor area, and convert

one large dining room into a 3 smaller more intimate dining areas.

They also plan to add a second level to house administration and other allied

health service office spaces.

The benefits of these changes will impact residents, families and of course staff -

allowing for both more privacy and more social interactions. Upgrades will meet

all current building and care standards.

Hawthorne serves all citizens of the TriCities area and residents may be from

Coquitlam or Port Moody as well as from Port Coquitlam.

Details of the campaign include the committment to raise approximately 1.1 Million

dollars and they have already received almost half of that amount in pledges..mostly from

families, staff, local business and the Board members. Pledges can be made

over 5 years and naming opportunities exist.

We wish them well and congratulate them on the great work they are doing.