A Fun Farewell for Long-Time Quinte 4 Patient
The Quinte 4 team at Belleville General Hospital recently gave a fun farewell to a patient named John who had been admitted for nearly 200 days.
John has Huntington’s Disease and was waiting for long-term care placement.
“John was not our first Huntington’s patient and the team is learning well how to care for these types of patients,” said Cleona Bartlett, Manager, Quinte 4 Inpatient Surgical Unit. “It took him weeks to settle with us but eventually he got to know everyone, and the routines, and interacted with staff from many departments and some of the other patients.”
John was not one to spend much time in his room and would often wander the hallways of the unit and strike up conversations. The social workers would include John in a weekly lunch date and take him for haircuts at the in-hospital salon.
When the team learned that John was being placed in a long-term care home, they threw an early 60th birthday party for him and had t-shirts made featuring John’s catchphrase—which John thought was hilarious.
“John is a die-hard Toronto Maple Leafs fan and he received many gifts including a Maple Leafs hoodie and hat, and new socks for his new home,” said Cleona. “He became part of our team, knowing a little bit about each of us and keeping us all in line. The unit is quieter without him and we miss him.”
Note: Patient consented to the use of this information.
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