A Mount Allison University student is helping bring comfort, engagement and connection to patients with dementia receiving care at Sackville Memorial Hospital.
Nevaeh LeBlanc, who plans to pursue a career in medicine, received a $2,000 project grant through Place aux competences, a program that supports youth in New Brunswick to get involved in their communities.
“I wanted to support local patients and families in a meaningful way,” said LeBlanc. “When I asked what patients and staff needed most, it was clear that helping these patients feel calmer and more engaged during their stay could make a real difference.”
Working closely with the unit team of the Brunswick West unit at SMH, where many of the patients are awaiting long-term care placement, LeBlanc developed a list of dementia-friendly sensory and comfort items designed to help patients stay engage and reduce anxiety.
Items purchased through the grant included fidget and tactile items, picture and activity books, puzzles, therapy dolls, and dementia-friendly radios with large buttons. The unit also received an additional iPad to support patient engagement.
Tahneen Luedee, nurse manager of the Brunswick West Unit at the time, said these items may not seem like much to some, but “they can make a big difference in someone’s day, helping them connect with familiar activities or interests from earlier in life.”
For patients who are in hospital longer-term, the impact is especially meaningful.
“These patients become part of the Brunswick West family,” said Luedee. “It can be very hard to be in hospital for weeks or months while waiting for placement. If we can do something small to brighten their day, it means a lot — to them, to their families, and to our staff.”
