Town staff thanked for its effort

Chris Clegg
South Peace News

The efforts of Town of High Prairie staff are certainly not going unnoticed.

Both High Prairie Palliative Care and the Brian and Lillian Bliss family wrote town council thanking their staff for efforts in recent weeks.

The Bliss family wrote thanking the town for quick service after their gas went out in the frigid temperatures of Jan 27.

"The person on the phone said he would be there in seven minutes and actually arrived before then," wrote the Bliss family. "On checking the gas valve he found the problem and had to put in new equipment which was completed within the hour."

The Bliss family commended the worker for quick and efficient service.

Town council decided to post the letter in the gas department and Public Works shop.

Coun. Rick Dumont was quick to add that all staff should be commended for a fine job during the cold weather. Other councilors quickly agreed.

Council and staff also received thanks from the High Prairie and District Holistic Palliative Care Society, who thanked them for a donation. Staff held their Christmas party in December and raised money for Palliative Care.

Palliative Care coordinator Kim Helgeson penned the letter of thanks.

" (It) assists us in accomplishing our mission and programs," she wrote.

Helgeson gave a short overview of the program for council's benefit.

"Presently there are three family care rooms in the High Prairie Hospital designated for the purpose of caring for individuals in the end stages of life and their families. The rooms have been furnished in a bright and homey atmosphere for the comfort of all concerned, meaning patient, family and friends as well as caregivers. Other groups have been instrumental in assisting our society with this program, namely the Hospital Auxiliary, the ladies of the Royal Purple, and recently the Royal Canadian Legion No. 37 has furnished a family care room in the nursing home."

The society has purchased pain injector pumps, TENS machines, several pieces of geriatric furniture, humidifiers, sheepskins, pressure slippers as well as two pressure mattresses for use in the various rooms and for loan to patients under the Home Care program who wish to remain at home. Other items which are also loaned for home use are pain pumps and beds.

"The society also provides volunteer training and grief recovery programs for grieving families and persons working through loss," says Helgeson.

Palliative Care has an office in the hospital with an excellent resource library.

"Anyone can borrow these books and videos at any time. There is a great deal of information available on all types of grieving and loss issues," says Helgeson.

Office hours are Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.