When you first hear about HAL, you may think of the fictional computer in the 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey. But in London HAL is now an acronym for Home At Last, a program designed to ensure a smooth transition from hospital to home for seniors.
Home At Last – or HAL for short – is just one of the many support programs offered by the Victorian Order of Nurses in conjunction with the Community Care Access Centre. The program identifies seniors in local hospitals and offers supports at home upon discharge.
These supports include running errands such as stopping at the pharmacy for medications; banking or grocery shopping; meal preparation, homemaking and laundry. And after a lengthy stay at the hospital it is not uncommon for these supports to also include cleaning out the fridge and other chores.
What with friends, family and neighbours is this program of any necessity? Just ask Isabelle Erskine, one senior who has taken advantage of this program.
Mrs. Erskine has personally felt what she calls “the psychological shock that you are home alone.” On a previous discharge from hospital, and with her daughter in Copenhagen, Mrs. Erskine had to be sent by cab to her home.
“You don’t want to burden your friends and taxi drivers are not the cuddliest people in the world,” she recalls. “It was dark when I got home. I sat down and I didn’t know what to do.”
Contrast this with what Mrs. Erskine experienced the next time after enlisting the services of the HAL program. She entered hospital Nov. 9, 2008, after a fall in her London apartment. Things went from bad to worse when she came down with pneumonia.
On Jan. 14, 2009 on discharge from the hospital, two attendants accompanied Mrs. Erskine to her home. Typically one attendant accompanies the patient. But on this particular day, one attendant stayed with Mrs. Erskine and made her a cup of tea. A simple gesture for sure yet one that was most appreciated especially after having spent over two months in hospital and finally arriving home weakened and overwhelmed.
The other attendant did some shopping to ensure there was ample food in the home.
Mrs. Erskine’s home was inspected for her health and safety in an effort to prevent any further slips, trips or falls. A complimentary Meals on Wheels was delivered to her door. Follow-up phone calls were made within 48-72 hours and any concerns she may have had were recorded by the manager of the HAL Program, Margo Culver.
Part of Ms. Culver’s job is to connect with the Community Care Access Centre and also contact the patient’s physician should any concerns appear. Follow-up would take place within the week.
“There is a definite need for this service but patients are getting missed,” Ms. Culver says. “Initially we relied mainly on hospital staff to refer clients. But like anything else these days, people get busy and services get missed. We have been relying mostly on word of mouth.”
Cathy Boyd is a London freelance writer. You can reach her at boydsoflondon@sympatico.c.
REACHING HAL
¦ To request the services of the Home At Last program – HAL for short – patients, family members and health care providers need only identify a potential HAL client and speak with the hospital Community Care Access Centre (CCAC) manager or contact the VON directly at 519-659-2273 or 1-866-463-0364.
Copyright © 2009 The Londoner
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