Fort Macleod Health Care Auxiliary Association members Dorothy Asuchak, Colleen Pansky and Rose Matlock relax in the family room.
Fort Macleod Health Care Auxiliary Association has nurtured the community for more than 125 years.
Founded in 1882 as a hospital aid society, the auxiliary has fund-raised for medical equipment, facility upgrades and items that make life easier for patients and their families.
That commitment to service continues in full force in 2023.
The auxiliary officially dedicated the new wheelchair and walker-accessible outdoor patio and garden adjacent to the palliative care unit at Fort Macleod Health Centre.
“I have personally witnessed the sense of contentment on the faces of those wheeled out into the sunshine and fresh air,” auxiliary president Marilyn Roemer said. “I was fortunate enough to be present when the very first patient was wheeled out to take the air and sun.”
“It is indeed an area of peace for patients, visitors and staff.”
The auxiliary also recently supplied the health care centre with a $10,000 wheelchair swing, supported by $1,000 from the Royal Purple and $2,000 from Dee Yoos.
In addition, the auxiliary bought a $7,000 bladder scanner for use in the emergency department and other areas.
The auxiliary also spent $3,000 to create a new family room for people visiting loved ones in the health care centre.
Roemer said the outdoor patio project began with an advertisement in The Macleod Gazette and gained momentum with a grant from the Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta.
Roemer said with a laugh that one of the first questions on the foundation grant application was whether the auxiliary was a viable organization.
“Oh yes, I was able to write 125 years of continuous existence in that box,” Roemer said. “And so, this area is dedicated and now forms a legacy to commemorate and celebrate our 125 years of existence.”
Roemer said many people and organizations contributed to the outdoor patio project, including the community foundation, Alberta Health Services, health care centre staff, Kathy Bourassa and Marg Hart.
“In the best sense of the word, members of the community got behind the auxiliary to get this project to fulfilment,” Roemer said. “Many thanks.”
Roemer noted the Inukshuks in the outdoor patio are significant in that the word means “the way home,” as well as “memory.”
“Both meanings are very fitting for our garden,” Roemer said.
Gnomes Karl and Willy also stand guard over the garden.
“As the garden evolves — as gardens tend to do — we certainly look forward to the many, many years of pleasure and enjoyment realized by patients, visitors and staff,” Roemer said.
“The auxiliary feels proud to have instigated this very great transformation from an unusable area to something beautiful and functional that everyone can enjoy, not just today but for many years to come.”
