Feature
Couples flourish in OMNI homes
Tuesday February 5, 2008
After living with someone for 50 or 60 years, the transition into long-term care can be difficult for some individuals. However, if the person’s spouse makes the move into the home with them, the transition into long-term care can be much easier.

There are many benefits to residents when their spouse moves into long-term care with them. In this setting, the couple continues to share life experiences and often one spouse will continue to help play the role of caregiver. This is not only helps the resident by providing familiarity, it also eases stress on caregivers.

Staff members in OMNI homes have also found that having the spouse of a resident move in with them can increase social activity. If one half of a couple is withdrawn, their partner, in many cases, will offer support and encouragement when it comes to attending programs offered.

John Donzil, assistant director of care at Forest Hill, recalls the story of a man who moved into the Kanata long-term care home who was very withdrawn, choosing to stay in his room most of the time, rather than socializing with others or participating in activities.

And then his wife decided to move into the home to be with him. Almost immediately, the man became more active and spent more time participating in programming.

“As soon as she moved in, his whole life changed around,” says Donzil.

Staff members point out that because many OMNI homes are located in rural agricultural communities, a large percentage of couples come from farming backgrounds.

Working together is a common theme in farming families and this type of structure is often carried into long-term care homes by couples who at one time plowed fields and tended to livestock together. For these residents, togetherness is just a way of life.

As the long-term care homes see increasing numbers of couples choosing to live together, many are looking for ways to better accommodate husbands and wives. More “couples rooms” are being built in OMNI homes to meet the demand.

Springdale Country Manor in Peterborough provides a room, specifically designed for couples, to help make the long-term care environment as homelike as possible.

This room has all the amenities that a couple would need, notes Maureen Imamovic, the home’s administrator.

“The couple that’s in there now, they have a little bar fridge, they have a love seat, two chairs from home (and) a large entertainment unit with a TV,” she says.