FolkStone provides a great alternative to institutional care.
PLEA provides tailor made services to meet individuals needs and circumstances.
About PLEA
Real stories
These stories illustrate how a Folkstone family can provide the right amount of personal assistance to your loved one, while reinforcing their sense of self-reliance, confidence, and pride.
Dinners with Mom
Mrs. S is an 88-year old Greek woman who needed full-time care. Her son brought her from Greece six years ago. She was very independent and living on her own when her health and memory became compromised. As her son and daughter-in-law both work full-time and were unable to provide the care she required, Folkstone was contacted as they felt a family care home setting would be a better option than a nursing institution.
Mrs. S's family went and viewed a few Folkstone homes, deciding which home and family would best suit their Mother’s needs Mrs. S was matched up with her Folkstone family caregivers. She was moved into the home, has her own bedroom and her son arranged to have a Greek cable network channel added to the family television.
Mrs. S adapted well to her new environment and her caregivers. She receives a lot of one-on-one attention and the caregivers have learned some of her Greek dialect in order to communicate with her. She is included in all the family outings and is accompanied to all her doctor appointments. Her various medical problems are continually monitored by the caregivers and she is seen by the Folkstone nurse as needed.
She has been living with her caregivers now for over two years and feels like part of the family. Her son visits her twice a week and he is included in the family dinner. This has proven to be a wonderful arrangement as the son is pleased with his mother’s surroundings and he can easily inquire about her care.
Daughter knows her limits
Mr. A is a ninety-five year old Lebanese man whom speaks Armenian, Turkish and Arabic and a little bit of French. He was very independent up until five years ago. He now lives with his daughter and is frequently angry and frustrated at having to rely on her for his needs.
In the past few years, he has experienced a lot of changes including the death of his wife, moving from Montreal and being head of the household. He moved into his daughter’s home in Vancouver and this has been quite an adjustment for them both.
Mr. A has a mild form of dementia and his eyesight is poor. He is very disoriented and forgetful at times especially during night time hours. His daughter feels he is capable of some of his day-to-day activities and this stimulation is important. His daughter takes very good care of her dad but at times this can be a very daunting task.
Mr. A ‘s daughter came to Folkstone in order to seek out respite care for her dad. She viewed a variety of homes and chose a home with appropriate care. Mr. A adjusted well to his respite home and caregivers. He has been a client at this home for over a year. He stays at the Folkstone home every weekend and with his daughter during the week. During the week he attends a daycare facility. When Mr. A is unwell, he is able to remain at the Folkstone home on a full-time basis in order to receive the care he requires. The Folkstone home is a comforting place where Mr. A can rest and convalesce.
With dignity comes self worth
Miss S is a 44 year-old woman with Acquired Brain Injury due to numerous strokes since age 27. Her mother was her primary caregiver when she passed away suddenly in March 2002 leaving Miss S without a home. The experiences and changes to Miss S’s life were drastic and devastating.
Miss S was referred to the Folkstone program. She has been placed in a Folkstone home in Richmond with another brain Injury client. She has done well with her new caregivers and has learned the bus routes in the Richmond area. She does volunteer work at the Folkstone office and recently started attending a weekly daycare program. Her autonomy and activities keep her connected to her community and provide her with a sense of self worth.
The Folkstone nurse assesses her physical health weekly and although Miss S’s smoking cannot be prevented, it is agreed upon by her family doctor that she should have a limit of 6 to 7 cigarettes a day. She has done very well sticking to this limitation. Miss S also receives music therapy once a week in her Folkstone home and she has done exceedingly well in the program. She also received some grief counseling to deal with the loss of her mother and this has helped with some of the depression she was feeling surrounding that event.
Miss S has adapted quite well to her Folkstone home and enjoys interacting with the two other clients who live in the home.
Independent dependence
Mr. W. suffered a brain injury approximately ten years ago. He was 42 years old at the time. He resided in an extended care ward at St. Vincent’s Hospital and shared a room with three elderly men with dementia when he was referred to the Folkstone Program.
A social worker contacted Folkstone to see if care could be provided for a client such as Mr. W. It was clear to see that this young man was not in an appropriate setting. He was often sent to his room for disturbing the other residents and would also kick and scream when his morning or evening care was being administered by the nursing staff.
Mr. W was placed in a Folkstone home in Richmond with a proper mechanical lift, his own private bedroom and bathroom. Within the first month, a vast improvement was noted in Mr. W’s behaviour and comfort level. Mr. W. looks forward to his weekly music therapy sessions which help to stimulate his memory and orientation. He is seen by the Folkstone nurse weekly who also works with him on memory tasks.
He has now lived in a Folkstone home for over one year and is very happy with his placement. His screaming behaviour has been greatly modified and he is very connected to his caregivers. Nobody believed that it would be possible to place someone like MR.W in a family-type setting