The RiverView Care Center was able to complete a whirlpool bathtub project this year with funds from several areas including the United Way of Crookston. United Way Executive Director Lori Wagner said the project was a year in the making and United Way was just one group that supported the project through their grant program. “We partnered with the RiverView Care Center this year,” said Wagner. “They were able to complete a whirlpool bath project that was a year in the making. They planned it quite a bit in advance and with the help of United Way were able to complete it. They did have some funds also with RiverView Auxiliary, RiverView Foundation, a private donor, and the United Way.”
The RiverView Care Center’s goal is to provide an individualized, safe bathing experience for each of their residents while striving to meet the resident’s preferences for how they would like to bathe, when, and frequency. The new tub also shortens the distance to transport residents to the whirlpool room. Wagner added that the tub comes with a lift which is important for staff to be able to safely help residents in and out of the bath. “It gives the staff the ability to be more efficient completing more than one bath at the same time,” said Wagner. “Two whirlpool baths are great for the residence and their choice on bathing times. They can’t all have baths at the same time. They also have lifts that are also accompanying this whirlpool tub for safe resident handling. I know when I worked at the Villa the lifts also really help the people who work there. It’s really hard on the employees when you don’t have a lift that is also safe for the residents getting in and out of the tub.”
A bath is not only a way to maintain hygiene but for patients with dementia is can be a time to experience calm, warmth, and relaxation. The RiverView Care Center staff looks forward to making that experience a reality and expects the whirlpool bathtub to touch the lives of residents for years to come.
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