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Optimum Care balances resident's
freedom and safety

January 25th, 2017

Care partners at Points West Living Stettler, are delighted with how well resident Bryan Gray is managing his re-found freedoms. When Bryan first arrived in February 2014, he was living in a secure Memory Care cottage, and needed to have someone accompany him for any outings. But Bryan has been helping his way to greater independence. 

Free to go

Today, with a move to a more open cottage, Bryan is free to go, on his own, to a variety of prearranged in-town activities. He has become a much appreciated volunteer both within PWL and the town of Stettler.

Tragedy reveals cognitive decline

Bryan has lived with schizophrenia all of his adult life, and it wasn’t until tragedy stuck in 2006 that his son Nathan (and Bryan’s legal agent for personal care) recognized the degree of cognitive decline his dad had experienced. “My mom passed away suddenly following a bad fall caused by a brain tumor, and we sold the house in Calgary and bought a condo here in Red Deer. That’s when it became apparent there were some severe memory and cognitive things going on,” Nathan Gray explains, “They hadn’t presented in Calgary because his routines there were so ingrained.”

Cognitive impairments are a common symptom of schizophrenia and they can impact the person’s ability to focus and pay attention, and to understand information and use it to make decisions. Emotional distress caused by cognitive impairments can aggravate other symptoms of the condition.

The right level of care

Arranging care for his dad took Nathan almost two years. “He was only in the condo for about 6 months before ending up in Ponoka (at The Centennial Centre for Mental Health and Brain Injury). At one point he was placed in a non-secure lodge, but he would get up and go out in middle of night.”

Finding the right level of freedom and safety for Bryan has been quite a balancing act, but for the time being PWL Stettler is able to provide it. “Of course, my dad doesn’t trust doctors, so the residential (non-hospital) setting has been a good step for him, once he established a routine and became familiar with his new surroundings,” says Nathan, “He knows the staff and they’ve been great with him.”

“He has a sense of purpose,” Nathan adds. “He has a list of things to do every day; he sweeps the floor, he checks every day whether any lights need replacing.” And he helps others.

What Bryan gives back to the community

Jenn Dixon has been counting on Bryan’s help since she started working as PWL Stettler’s recreation coordinator in April 2015. “With careful medical management and the Eden Philosophy we were able to empower Bryan,” says Jenn, and lists what he gives back to the community, “Bryan helps porter residents, feeds the birds in summer, waters plants both here and at the hospital atrium; he helps with basic set up and clean up for events, sings in a church choir, goes to a socialization group and, on top of all of that, he goes swimming three times a week!”

A tricky balance

Nathan and PWL Stettler work together to ensure Bryan stays safe. “I do worry, but how do you draw the line? It’s a tricky balance. He has improved but I know there will be a steady decline.” he says, adding, “I think he’s fairly content. We’re lucky he’s where he is and not on the street; for his sake and my sanity.”

Photo: Brian Gray (on right) joins other residents (from left) Mike, Kathryn, Pat and Nick on their way to Happy Gang, a group of seniors that comes to sing at PWL Stettler.

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