Hospital-type Beds Provided in Nova Scotia Homes
The government of Nova Scotia and the Canadian Red Cross are expanding a specialized bed loan program to help thousands of Nova Scotians get hospital-type beds for temporary use in their homes.
The Red Cross has managed the service in the Capital Health District since 1999, using 350 specialized hospital beds. With the expansion, an additional 758 beds will be available across the province through three Red Cross service centres in Kentville, Truro and Sydney.
"Nova Scotians have told us that they want quality care in their homes and communities," said Health Minister Chris d'Entremont. "By more than tripling the number of beds available across the province, we are helping Nova Scotians receive care in the comfort of their own homes and supporting caregivers by easing some of the physical burden."
To accommodate the expanded program, the Red Cross is adding two maintenance and delivery technicians and another vehicle at each of the three new locations to deliver, set up, recover and maintain the specialized beds.
"We have seen the tremendous success of this program in the Halifax area, allowing patients to recover more comfortably or, in a growing number of cases, to spend their final days in the familiarity of their own homes," said John Byrne, general manager of the Canadian Red Cross in Atlantic Canada. "Expanding this program to smaller and more rural areas provincewide is welcome news for many and an initiative that we applaud."
The program is available to individuals who are assessed Department of Health care co-ordinators and meet the eligibility criteria. The bed system is free and provided as long as needed by eligible individuals.
The specialized bed service is managed by the Canadian Red Cross as part of its overall Health Equipment Loan Program that also provides the public with short-term free loans of wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, commodes and other personal health mobility aids.
The cost of the bed loan program is about $743,000 annually and is part of the province's 10-year, $260-million Continuing Care Strategy to help Nova Scotians get the care they need, when they need it and where they need it.
More information on the program is available by calling 902-424-4288, toll-free at 1-800-225-7225, and on the department's website at www.gov.ns.ca/health/ccs .