Maplewood residents
have their say
Another, more positive view
of long-term care
Thursday December 11, 2003 John Driscoll
Voices from Maplewood spoke yesterday of the warm care and compassion there, in a direct response to the Toronto Star series highlighting serious problems in some long-term care homes in the province.

Five women who live at Maplewood, along with Administrator and Director of Care Arlene Lawlor and Clinical Care Co-ordinator Deb Skeaff, decided to counter the negative publicity by describing life in the 49-bed home in Brighton.

The residents wanted to counter the negative picture of long-term care drawn in the Star series, explains Arlene.

In a telephone interview with the OMNIway, filled with laughter and light banter, the women speak warmly and proudly about their home.

“This place is beautiful,” says Ruth McLaren, 88, president of the residents’ council. And oh, we have a wonderful time here, a lot of fun.” There are parties, a glee club and lots of activities including a Christmas party Thursday, she says.

Ruth and four other residents; Dorothy Breeze, 82; Olive Dainard, 91; Mary Dale, 88, and Ada Quick, 78, took turns extolling staff and the lifestyle at Maplewood. They all said they were happy to be there.

Originally from London, Ont., Ruth has spent three years at Maplewood. “The staff listen to us,” she says. “They are all wonderful and it’s good to be here.”

Relatives who have visited say they haven’t seen anything like the friendly and caring atmosphere at Maplewood, Ruth says.

She has high praise for Nutritional Care Manager Don Houston. “He spoils me like heck,” she says. Ruth is also proud of the role of the Residents’ Council. “Staff listens to us and we make some money to buy things for the place, like patio furniture.”

When asked if she has any concerns about her care, Ada is quick to reply, “I’m happy here. I have no complaints at all.”

Ada came to Maplewood from the Trenton hospital and admits she was “feeling down” when she arrived, but that quickly changed, she adds.

"The nurses here are wonderful and I’m feeling much better,” she says. Ada is so high on Maplewood that she’s convinced a friend to come and live there.

Ada has lived in the home for three months but is a long-time and well-known Brighton resident. “I have known many of the staff when they were young and it’s nice to regularly see people you’ve known all their lives,” she says.

Dorothy Breeze, described by the other woman as “the windy one,” describes Maplewood as “a wonderful place. “We think of the staff here as family,” she says. “We get a hug or a kiss every morning.

“I feel very fortunate I got a bed here,” Dorothy says. She’s an entertainer, playing piano at parties. She also helped out by playing the piano during two recent blackouts affecting the home this year.

“I never saw a bunch of people take over and do a job like they did during the blackouts,” says Ada. “Nobody got hurt and nobody panicked.”

Mary says her daughter found her a place at Maplewood. “Everybody here is so kind,” she says. “This is my home.”

Olive says she feels the same way. “I’m happy here,” she says.

Staff also feels it is a great environment, Arlene says. During both power outages people who weren’t scheduled came in to work or called to ask if they were needed. “That demonstration of their compassion and commitment was very comforting to me and to our residents.”

Deb says she has worked as a nurse in several areas from child psychiatry and family practice to a prison.

“Of all the careers I’ve had, I have never had such a rewarding job as this one,” she says. “The compassion and love I’ve seen makes this job the best.”