John Thomas knows firsthand what it’s like to navigate the healthcare system and end-of-life care for an aging parent.
He was first introduced to the work of the Eldercare Foundation when his father, Robert (Bob) Thomas, became a resident in Victoria’s Glengarry Hospital in 2011. “My father had fallen and hurt his back,” says John. “While he was in rehabilitation to recover, he fell again and broke his femur. At this point, his mental state began to deteriorate, and our family decided that the move to Glengarry was necessary.”
John was a regular visitor, spending countless hours with his father during Bob’s two years in Glengarry before Bob passed away at the age of 92. While Bob was living in Glengarry, his son began to understand the important work done by the Eldercare Foundation to support the quality of life for older adults across Vancouver Island.
“The Eldercare Foundation, in partnership with donors, works hard to ensure citizens in the community are supported through aging to end-of-life with respect and dignity,” says John. “The Foundation achieves this by raising funds for specialized equipment, home enhancements, community support, research and education.”
When Bob’s condition became critical and end-of-life was approaching, the family wanted their father to pass in peace. So, Bob was moved from his shared room to a private space for his end-of-life care. John recalls eight long days and nights as he and his family spent their final moments with their father.
“The room was confined, stark, no view to the outside world, stuffy, noisy, with uncomfortable furniture and a bathroom that was inconveniently located down the hall,” he says. “This is not the type of a place any of us should spend our final days. Let me be clear,” adds John, “the staff were wonderful and attentive. The care my father received in those final days was exceptional. It was the space, the environment, which was lacking the peace or tranquility that should be present when any of us take our last breath.”
After conversations with his family, and in Bob’s memory, the family decided to embark on a fundraising campaign to improve the aesthetics for Glengarry residents that were transitioning to end-of-life care. With an initial $5,000 donation from the Thomas family, $28,000 was raised to transform a former storage room into a new end-of-life-comfort care room. The room opened in June 2015.
When not being used for end-of-life care, the room is used as a family visiting room. “This is a private, comfortable and quiet space,” says John. “It is furnished with a sofa-bed for family members, a television and stereo so residents can listen to their favourite music or watch home movies. It is also equipped with a kitchenette to make a cup of tea or prepare a patient’s favourite food.”
The Robert D. Thomas Memorial Comfort Care Room is a space where families can share their final days and memories together. The room is located close to the committed health care workers at Glengarry that provide support to end-of–life patients.
John didn’t stop at raising funds for the comfort room. He wanted to do more to help improve the quality of life for elders beyond Glengarry. To that end, he became involved as an Eldercare Foundation member to help improve the conditions for elders in care and raise funds.
“My father was a great man and a wonderful dad. He worked as a professional engineer in forestry for 42 years. He also served in England for three years with the Canadian Air Force as an airframe technician from 1942-1945. He then attended UBC engineering to get his degree,” says John. “My parents built a wonderful life together raising five children. My father deserved better in his last few days. That’s why I got involved.”
“The odds of any of us or our loved ones ending up in care is high,” John adds. “The Eldercare Foundation is helping to ensure that seniors in care have an improved quality of life and tranquil end of life.”
According to Eldercare Foundation Executive Director Lori McLeod, John’s support and commitment to the Foundation is having a positive ripple effect. “John is a champion, an advocate and a voice for end-of-life support for the elderly,” she says. “He has been generous with his time, his expertise and his pocketbook in helping the community understand the important work that is being done by the Eldercare Foundation. He is willing to jump in and do whatever needs to be done. This includes organizing and hosting a whiskey-tasting event that raised over $5,000 in March 2018.”
McLeod adds that John’s expertise as a financial planner is an asset to the Eldercare finance committee. He was elected to serve on the Eldercare Foundation’s Board of Directors in 2014. He then rose to the position of Vice President and at the Foundation’s AGM in September 2017, he was elected President, a position he still holds.
“John is a passionate and generous volunteer,” says McLeod. “He is hard to say ‘no’ to. His strong leadership skill is an asset as the Foundation undertakes to raise $1M by December 31, 2018.”
“We have one of the oldest populations in the country living on Vancouver Island,” says John. “As citizens age, the challenge to provide quality end-of-life care will continue to increase. These are our parents, our aunts and uncles and our friends and, one day, it will be us.”
John is a retired investment advisor that lives in Victoria. He is an avid paddler, rugby fan, and loves to spend time with his wife, children and grandchildren.
To learn more about the Eldercare Foundation or to donate, visit https://gvef.org
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