June 11, 2016
Patient Dale Nestorovich enjoys his new television at the Slave Lake Healthcare Centre, paid for by community donations to the Slave Lake Hospital Auxiliary Society.
Story by Kerri Robins; photo courtesy Slave Lake Healthcare Centre
SLAVE LAKE — Passing the time can be a challenge when you’ve been in hospital since last October, but things are looking up for 55-year-old amputee Dale Nestorovich at Slave Lake Healthcare Centre.
Thanks to proceeds from the centre’s gift store, the Slave Lake Hospital Auxiliary Society recently bought 24 flat-screen televisions, at a cost of $27,245, to modernize the rooms and viewing options there.
“Since I’ve been in the hospital, I’ve watched a lot more TV to fill the time,” says the Widewater man. “With the flat-screen TVs, it’s really nice now because the picture is so much clearer than the old ones. They also have headphones so you can watch without disturbing anyone around you.”
Fourteen TVs were installed last September, with nine more in January, leaving one spare for backup, says Site Manager Cathy Oulton, adding that she’s happy with the upgrade.
“Our old TVs were tube style and starting to break down,” she says. “The new TVs are much easier for patients to use, for example, having a remote control is a real benefit. It may seem like a small thing — but it goes a long way in improving the lives of both our patients and staff.”
Since they were installed in all the acute-care rooms at the health centre, they’ve become a welcome distraction for patients.
“The TVs keep our patients connected to the world and that’s important when one feels isolated at the hospital,” Oulton adds.
Dianne Cofer, a member of the Slave Lake Hospital Auxiliary Society since 2003, says the active community auxiliary raised more than $420,900 between 2000 and 2015.
“We raise money through our gift shop, an annual garage sale and Christmas craft table,” says Cofer.
“We also raise money through donations from those who purchase memorial plaques to honour their deceased loved ones by engraving their name on the plaque. We have a great community and I’m really proud to be part of this group of people who support their health care.”
As for Nestorovich, he’s on the mend.
“I like watching sports mainly — and I think I’d go crazy if I wasn’t able to watch TV.”
For more information on health care foundations in Alberta, please visit ahs.ca/give.
