Donors drive innovation for seniors’ mental health care
After witnessing the expert care his father-in-law received at Covenant Health’s Villa Caritas, former Global Edmonton broadcaster and Covenant Health and Covenant Foundation board member Tim Spelliscy, would like to see community support take specialized care at the standalone geriatric mental health facility to the next level.
"I think a lot of people in the Edmonton area would be surprised to learn that such a unique facility exists right here in our city,” says Tim. “There are some amazing innovations in geriatric mental health care, and those are the things Covenant Foundation’s donors can help bring to Villa Caritas."
In 2016, Tim’s father-in-law was admitted to Villa Caritas where he spent nearly two years receiving treatment to address his complex mental health needs, mobility limitations and Parkinson’s disease. Tim was impressed by the high-quality care his father-in-law received while he was at the acute mental health facility located behind the Misericordia Community Hospital, which has 120 beds and boasts a highly trained and multidisciplinary staff. Now, he wants to raise support for the one-of-a-kind facility that makes a difference for families like his.
At a time when the number of seniors in our province is rising faster than any other age group, Villa Caritas is leading the way for seniors’ mental health. More than 725,000 Albertans were over the age of 65 in September 2022 and that number is expected to double within the next two decades. Across all ages, one in five Canadians experiences a mental illness every year according to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Add to that the mental health crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, which disproportionately affected and isolated seniors, and it becomes clear geriatric mental health is a priority.
Linda Chow-Turner, senior operating officer of rural acute and mental health at Covenant Health, agrees: “We will have more patients and challenges to face because an aging population means a higher volume of patients who need services like those provided at Villa Caritas."
An innovative approach to seniors’ mental health
As Tim witnessed with his own father-in-law, the specialized geriatric psychiatry program at Villa Caritas is uniquely designed to support geriatric mental health patients with complex mental disorders typically occurring later in life. Because aging patients may have multiple physical and mental health issues at the same time, they often need specialized care above and beyond what younger people with mental health concerns require.
"Our patients are here primarily for an acute psychiatric concern, but these kinds of health-related concerns don't typically happen in isolation,” says Angela Vandervelde, a rehabilitative services unit manager at Villa Caritas. “Most patients at Villa Caritas are over the age of 65, so they have comorbidities (more than one illness at once) associated with aging that may have impacted their physical, emotional and cognitive health.”
A patient may have multiple health concerns at the same time such as swallowing difficulties, mobility issues, dementia and depression or anxiety. The Covenant team at Villa Caritas addresses this by taking a holistic approach to patient care; they consider the patient’s mind, body and soul, with an awareness that the health of one affects the health of the others. The multidisciplinary team consists of geriatric psychiatrists, family doctors, internists, podiatrists, nurses, rehabilitation specialists, speech language pathologists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, dieticians, social workers, transition coordinators, spiritual care workers, recreation therapists, and other consultants. Each staff member conducts a specialized assessment alongside a designated social worker to ensure patients receive the best, whole-person care possible.
Although Villa Caritas was built to feel like a continuing care centre with a comforting home-like environment, it is not a long-term placement. Once a patient is in a more stable state after receiving the individualized care they need, they either return to their community where they are connected to supports such as a geriatric mental health day program or move into a continuing care facility where they can continue receiving visits from geriatric psychiatrists as needed.
With his insider’s perspective and deep understanding and appreciation for the important work happening at Covenant Health in support of geriatric mental health, Tim says now is the time to ramp up support for vulnerable seniors – and their families – who rely on Villa Caritas when they need it most.
"I want others to know their generosity makes a positive impact for our loved ones, friends and neighbours in our community,” says Tim. “Together, we can help staff at Villa Caritas continue to provide the best care possible today and in the busier years to come.”
The donor-driven difference
Geriatric mental health combines two of Covenant Foundation’s priority areas of focus – seniors’ health and well-being, and mental health and addictions. Together with its donors, Covenant Foundation is proud to support Albertans with unique and complex needs through investments in specialized programs, medical equipment and staff training, and enhanced spaces at Villa Caritas.
Dr. Candace Walker, a geriatric psychiatrist and the Associate Chief Medical Officer of Addiction and Mental Health & Continuing Care for Covenant Health, is optimistic the community is starting to see the heightened importance of supporting Villa Caritas:
“I’m really excited to see donors put their names behind supporting seniors’ mental health. They should be proud because more than just the value of the money, they’re moving things forward by helping to increase education and decrease stigma. I know seniors’ mental health isn’t flashy, but our seniors are worth it. They deserve our support.”
Headshot of Dr. Candace Walker against the stone wall of Villa Caritas' exterior.
Big or small, community donations to the foundation already make a tremendous difference for patients, their families and the healthcare staff at the site. Since 2016, Covenant Foundation has committed about $425,000 to advance care at Villa Caritas.
Big or small, community donations to the foundation already make a tremendous difference for patients, their families and the healthcare staff at the site. Since 2016, Covenant Foundation has committed about $425,000 to advance care at Villa Caritas.
Donor impact has included initiatives such as funding a shuttle bus that helps transport patients to medical appointments and continuing care facilities when they leave Villa Caritas. This reduces the need for staff to call EMS to transport patients to the hospital and decreases financial stress on patients who may not be able to afford to take a taxi to their medical appointments. Donor support has also helped the foundation purchase specialized equipment such as wheelchairs and Broda chairs, which can help relieve chronic pain and increase patient safety and dignity.
Exciting advancements in technology have also provided opportunities for donors to help the foundation drive innovation in care through investments in leading-edge equipment such as the Tovertafel system, which is set to be introduced to the site in the coming months. The Tovertafel is a gaming system from the Netherlands specifically designed for improving engagement with people in the mid-to-late stages of dementia. Thanks to donor support, it has already been implemented at several Covenant continuing care centres with great success. Staff at Villa Caritas believe the Tovertafel will be a big asset when delivering care for their patients, too.
"We’re very excited for the Tovertafel, especially after hearing from long-term care facilities who already have one about how they’ve used it,” says Dr. Walker. “Not all patients are going to be able to socialize or be keen to participate in certain activities, but this is just another option of something that can be mentally stimulating for them and increase their quality of life, which we all need."
Yet, much more could be done. Geriatric mental health is a rapidly growing area of need and Villa Caritas stands poised to lead the way with the support of Covenant Foundation behind it. Community support will continue to be crucial to help increase quality of life for patients and set them up for the best outcomes possible.
The patients at Villa Caritas are some of the most vulnerable patients in health care and we're so proud of the work our teams do every day with them and their families,” says Linda. “The support from Covenant Foundation over the years has made a significant improvement to patients we serve and the staff who serve them.”
Although his father-in-law passed away several years ago, Tim is grateful for the care and support Villa Caritas provided him and his family when they needed it most. As a Covenant Foundation donor himself, he looks forward to seeing community support for seniors’ mental health continue to grow.
"Geriatric mental health is an area where there’s great need and it’s also an area where donors can really make a difference to families just like mine,” says Tim. “The extraordinary support donors provide is a gesture of kindness to our seniors today, and an investment in the future care many of us might need as we age.”
Written by: Kate Dawson
Your support makes a tremendous difference for seniors needing specialized mental health care. Please visit our donation page and help us advance leading-edge seniors care and geriatric mental health in your community.