North Bay hospital launches new ‘dementia-free neighbourhood’ to reduce patient stress

The North Bay Regional Health Centre (NBRHC) has transformed its dementia care unit into a ‘neighbourhood’ to help reduce patient stress. The hospital's Evergreen, Willow, Cedar, and Oak units are now better suited environments for patients with neurocognitive disorders. (Eric Taschner/CTV News)

The North Bay Regional Health Centre (NBRHC) has transformed its dementia care unit into a ‘neighbourhood’ to help reduce patient stress.

The hospital's Evergreen, Willow, Cedar, and Oak units are now better suited environments for patients with neurocognitive disorders, promoting comfort, safety, and a greater sense of home.

The goal is to create an environment that reflects a village because people don’t exist in hospital wards, but rather in their community.

"It's a way of showing our respect in our honoring of people who have served our communities for decades, for many, many years, centuries," said Dr. Rhea Galbraith, the hospital’s care of the elderly physician.

"This is our way of leading forward in what good dementia care looks like."

There’s a nursery, bus stop, an orchard with fruit that you can pick off the wall, a bank where patients can withdraw 'money' that resembles Canadian currency, and a cafe where people can share time and a hot beverage with family and friends.

There are also added sensory features.

The project includes customized adhesive graphics for each patient’s door, interactive murals, areas dedicated to familiar places, exit concealing graphics and more.

"This idea was actually born in 2009 in the Netherlands in the village called The Hogeweyk," Galbraith said.

"I was inspired by that idea. To my knowledge, there's not another hospital environment that this is offered in, in Canada."

She added that there is a long-term care home in B.C. that is currently working on creating a similar village-like atmosphere for its residents.

"My hope is that by focusing on this and celebrating the success that we've had in our northern hospital, these changes will inspire other hospitals to improve their inpatient care for older adults with memory change,” she said.

Hospital research data shows the project has reduced patient stress.

"Code White measures patient and staff interactions that might result in incident reports," Galbraith said.

Shown to reduce stress

"When we reviewed these data sets, we've had essentially a 50-per-cent reduction in the number of Code Whites that are on that unit since the implementation of these environmental upgrades. So that tells you that the level of distress on the unit is significantly improved."

"The incident reports with staff and providing care to patients in that setting, we've reduced that by 30 to 40 per cent, which again, shows that older adults are feeling more, secure and safe to receive care from staff on the unit," she added.

Officials said the community came together to raise more than $170,000 for the project.

Donors and hospital leaders celebrated its completion Wednesday.