Care When It Mattered Most
When Evelyn and her five children moved to Canada from The Philippines over two decades ago, she brought her kindness, cleverness, and energy with her.
Evelyn was many things to many people.
An active person, Evelyn loved swimming, running with her daughter, Jessa, and exercising at the YMCA with her husband, Bruno. Always on the move, they were an inseparable team.
A skilled chef, Evelyn made a lasagna that would give Gordon Ramsay a run for his money.
An imaginative artist, Evelyn used to design Halloween costumes for Jessa, which were so iconic that her friends became jealous.
A shopping pro, Evelyn could make any visit to the store a blast.
A travel enthusiast, traveling with Bruno became one of Evelyn’s great joys and passions. Cruising across the oceans she embraced every adventure with her signature warm smile.
Evelyn loved being with her family, and they loved being with her. She had a larger-than-life presence, so they quickly noticed when she became quieter and less engaged in her daily activities.
Evelyn‘s diagnosis
After a year of tests, Evelyn was officially diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, which changed everything forever.
“When she first got her diagnosis, obviously we were distraught, we were devastated, and we didn’t know what to do,” explained Jessa.
Working full-time, Bruno couldn’t care for Evelyn by himself, so he reached out to every kind of relevant support. Bruno’s care coordinator then put him in contact with Acclaim Health.
“When I heard about Acclaim Health and the services they had, I thought this would be the right fit for what I need, and it truly was,” said Bruno.
What could we provide?
Acclaim Health provides support through our state-of-the-art dementia care centre, Patty’s Place, in Oakville! Its adult day programs and overnight respite suites offer care for people with dementia while their primary caregivers get a much-needed break.
Every week, Bruno or Jessa would drop Evelyn off at Patty’s Place, and our warm and enthusiastic staff and volunteers would greet her at the door.
“I think it’s important those day programs exist, because they know how to navigate that condition, and they know how to speak them like they’re real people, which they are,” explained Jessa.
The Patty’s Place team ran a variety of fun activities to engage Evelyn’s mind, such as ball toss, art lessons, pet therapy, and group discussions, all while providing her with meaningful social connection.
Bruno and Jessa had the time to work and take care of themselves, all while having the peace of mind that Evelyn was safe and enjoying herself in the care of professionals.
Patty’s Place also ensured that one of Evelyn’s most important wishes came true.
“My mom never wanted to be put in a nursing home,” explained Jessa. “Having that help allowed us to prevent that from happening… that meant everything to her and that meant everything to me.”
“It gave me much comfort and ease of mind knowing that Evelyn was in place surrounded by professionals who provided compassionate care and kept Evelyn engaged in activities,” explained Bruno.
Once you join the Acclaim Health community, you will always be part of it.
Evelyn passed away three years after her diagnosis, but Acclaim Health continues to be a part of her family’s lives.
Bruno has used two of our bereavement support services, including one on one counselling and a virtual support group, both of which have provided him with new insights, perspectives, and connections.
Furthermore, Evelyn’s family got to honour her memory at our recent Candlelight Memorial Service.
“I’m forever grateful,” shared Bruno. “Acclaim Health is such a vital part of our community. It’s like the best kept secret. I’m sure not everyone knows about it, but when you need it, it’s there.”