The Home ViVE (Visiting Vancouver’s Elders) Plus program started just over a year ago and has assisted with 
preventing hospitalization and residential placement for nearly 100 people since that time. Donald was one of the first few clients to enter the program when he was discharged from VGH in October of last year. At that time it was determined that Donald had Extended Care level needs, but his wife, Jacoba, was determined to take him home. Donald’s care has not only been manageable at home; he has begun to thrive. His medical needs have been well met by one of the Home ViVE Plus GPs, Dr. Arja Moreau. Donald’s physical rehabilitation has exceeded expectations due to the work he has done with Susan Munkeskov (PT with HV+), and multiple rehabilitation assistants (RAs), Erin Bell and Jeff Lang. It was expected that Donald would be bed ridden, but he is now up, sitting in his wheelchair much of the day, and walking around with the RAs and his wife. As his occupational therapist, I acquired funding from Veteran’s Affairs Canada to purchase Donald a bed, therapeutic mattress, tilt-in-space wheelchair, and an elevator so that the client could get into and out of his home. Yesterday, I sat with Donald and Jacoba in their beautiful backyard garden, and it was his first time in a year that he was able to get out of his house without emergency services. You can tell by the smile on Jacoba’s face just how meaningful it can be to sit in the garden with the one whom you love.
It is not often that we have a chance to work on quality of life components as we are so busy with physical health and safety issues. It was incredible to see the joy a lift can bring and how Donald now has access to a whole new quality of life.