Press Coverage

Canada's largest provider of home and community health care service has arrived in Red Deer.

Bayshore Home Health, which has more than 50 home care offices and 20 community care clinics across the country, recently opened a local branch. On Friday, its first client – 94-year-old Louise Robertson of Red Deer – was at Abbey Road Hair Studio, accompanied by Patricia Compton, Bayshore's local manager of clinical practice.

Compton said Bayshore is helping Robertson with commitments like hair-styling appointments, as well as homemaking chores. For many seniors, such support can mean the difference between remaining at homes or having to relocate to a long-term care facility.

"Over and over again you hear how senior citizens want to stay in their homes," she said, adding that such independence can help enhance their outlook and health.

"They want to stay in their homes longer and they want to be healthy longer."

Often, said Compton, responsibility for helping them achieve this objective falls to their children, whose time may be limited.

"They're dealing with caring for their own children and caring for elderly adults."

In other cases, a senior might be struggling to look after a spouse who needs care.

In both situations, said Compton, Bayshore can step in. It offers nursing services (with both registered and licensed practical nurses on staff), personal care, home support, companionship, skin health and wound care, among other supports.

Palliative care for the terminally ill and respite for caregivers can also be arranged.

"Our focus will be home care," said Compton, who is a registered nurse. "Where we go from the home care is totally whatever the community needs."

For instance, Bayshore can provide care to clients in hospitals and long-term care facilities. It offers health education programs, as well as services to businesses and corporations – such as cholesterol readings, blood pressure testing and in-house flu clinics, and can even arrange for replacement staff to fill short-term or long-term openings.

Bayshore's services can be contracted privately, or arranged through government care programs, personal and group insurance plans, and workplace safety insurance.

Its Red Deer branch is located at No. 200, 4928 53rd Ave. (the Beltone Hearing Centre building). An open house and wellness clinic will take place there this Wednesday from 3 to 7 p.m.

Additional information about Bayshore Home Health can be found online at www.bayshore.ca.