Meet Robbie

Robbie's Story

Growing up, Robbie Brescia wondered, as most people do, what would happen to his parents when they got older and were no longer able to care for themselves at home.

“They’re your parents and you love them, but one day you know they may not be able to care for themselves, this happened to my parents. You always have that fear that I’m going to leave my parents with someone else and they won’t be able to care for them like family can. But it’s being truthful to yourself that you can’t do it all, and you may need specialized help.”

Robbie’s fears were put at ease when his Dad moved into long-term care at Hogarth Riverview Manor and later, when his mother entered the Geriatric Assessment and Rehabilitative Care (GARC) program at St. Joseph’s Hospital.

“When my father went to Hogarth (I knew) it was the right thing because the minute you walked in, you saw the care and your fears subsided.”

“With the GARC program, I can’t say enough because they’ve been that extended support to take care of my mother.” The GARC program provides a ‘tune up’ for seniors who can still remain in their home independently but need some support to regain confidence in their ability to remain independent.

“And then knowing that you have the team of the Care Group that can help you, support you and lift you up along the journey. I can’t say enough because it’s given me the ability to continue to function and live knowing that we have this support for them. They not only gave the support to my family, but did amazing work with my Mum. She even enjoyed riding the bike, something she had never done before.”

“And they all did it… there was no other motive except for care and compassion and seeing her regain some of her mobility.”

Robbie recalls an incident that illustrated the easy nature of life at Hogarth Riverview Manor.

“They had bingo and the staff called me and said, ‘Where would you like us to put your father’s winnings? My Dad had never played bingo in his life, and I’m thinking, what winnings? What did he do? Dad later told me, ‘Yeah, I won a $1.75.’ Those little activities, the social activity meant the world to him and to our family. There is always the care, but it’s also about the social aspect for many people who are lonely and isolated.”

Robbie said that when his mom began needing geriatric support she said, ‘I didn’t picture this for myself.’ But the staff at St. Joseph’s Hospital created another picture that said, “here’s how we’re going to help you and here’s how we’re going to take care of you.

So we’re going to get you to where you need to be.” Her demeanor soon became much more upbeat.

He says that the attitudes he encountered aren’t part in a job description, you can’t write “care” into a job description, a person has to have that as part of their being. There has to be a passion for the work.
“You see the care and the love. They make it the best that they can make it. It’s comfortable and that’s important.”

Robbie recalls seeing a sign posted in the dining room at St. Joseph’s Heritage that sums up the staff attitude: “We don’t work where they live. We work in their home.”

Robbie expressed thanks to the Care Group for giving more care than they have to, “for being that family member and for giving that virtual hug because I think sometimes when we’re going through these journeys, that’s what we need the most.”

“I know with the Care Group, it always feels that you have that warm comforter around you. Without the the Care Group, where would we be? We’d be maybe having different stories.”

“Now that I do know (I think), wow, it’s a they do a lot.” Because of this caring attitude and the compassion for their clients my mom has become a donor to the Foundation. She wants to give back to those that helped her regain some of her independence.”

Cheryl's Story

Cheryl Delorenzi became part of St. Joseph’s Care Group when her parents moved into Sister Leila Greco Apartments. It didn’t take long for her to appreciate the surroundings, and especially the staff.

“The apartments are really nice. When my parents moved in, we took their furniture and personal belongings and set it into their new home. It felt just like their home of many years.”

Cheryl’s mom’s Alzheimer’s soon progressed and she was moved (next door) to Hogarth Riverview Manor.

“This worked out really good for my Dad because he was able to see her every day. They were together, just like they had always been. Whenever we couldn’t be there, he was there. He would feed her breakfast or supper and just go lie down with her at night.”

“I think it’s really special that you can have assisted living and long term care homes together. This helps couples stay together and receive the care that each needs as individuals. It’s important.”

Cheryl’s dad stayed in the apartment at the Sister Leila Greco until he passed, “and that was his extended family. They would just sit and visit with him and he loved it. They were really good to him. And he was good to them. They called him the Mayor. They miss him. I know they miss the mayor.”

Cheryl admires the camaraderie among staff. “They all seemed to work and respect each other’s position on the floor. Whether it’s a nurse, the one giving the meds or the personal support worker, it seemed like they could rely on whoever was around.”

Cheryl says that no matter a resident’s situation or illness, “you don’t really appreciate what they can do for you until you’re there. Not everybody’s meant to be a PSW or work in a long term care home or hospital. It takes special people.”

The more she saw of the efforts staff put in, the more she was impressed – so much so that she decided to become a volunteer to help wherever she could. Cheryl and her siblings also donate to support activities for the clients at Sister Leila Greco, and she is a part of the Family Council. When each parent passed away, the family directed memorial donations to St. Joseph’s Foundation so that their legacy of support to the Care Group and specifically to Sister Leila Greco would continue.

When her mom passed away, Cheryl’s family wanted to give something back in appreciation for all that had done for her. They settled on a pill crusher, an essential senior health-care tool.
The family also donated an angel figurine, which is proudly displayed in the home.

Cheryl has so many wonderful memories of the staff. “What I really appreciated was the PSWs that had the responsibility of caring for her each day. They would tell you stories: ‘last night your mom just needed a hug, and I was there to give her one.’”

Staff would often just sit with residents in the evening. “‘I’m not supposed to be here too much longer, but everybody else is okay tonight so I’m going to stay with you’ That’s what I really appreciated. Those moments. If they’re doing it for one, they’re doing it for all.”

Cheryl urges people wondering how their parents will be cared for later in life to consider the long term care homes available at the Care Group.

“I just want to tell people, look into it. It’s a great place to live. You will hear the stories of how well cared for your parents or loved ones will be.”

“We are always afraid and concerned when our parents have to move somewhere new at this stage in their life. Just let them try it, because like my parents, they had a wonderful life and loved living at Hogarth. We’re giving them a good quality of life, activities to enjoy and amazing care by amazing people. Our family is grateful and think it’s wonderful.”

Frank's Story

Frank Zanatta’s experience with the Care Group began when his mother moved into Bethammi Nursing Home, but soon he learned from personal experience just how important the organization can be to people of any age.

“When your loved one moves into long-term care, you just don’t know what to expect, what I would have to do, what they were going to do,” he recalls.

With Frank busy in his career, his spouse took on much of the initial visiting and care, “and thank goodness she did. But then we were able to realize that everything is good… mom’s being taken care of. She’s having fun, she’s having that social interaction. It was home for her. They became like family to my mom.”

“You don’t know how important it is to you, being able to sleep at night and understand that mom is okay.”

Frank was particularly appreciative of the Care Group’s care and compassion when his mother was nearing the end of her life. “That’s when they even took it up a notch. They moved my mom to a private room and all the staff came in, gave me a hug. It takes a special type of person to be able to do that. It was an experience that allowed me to move on.”

Then came a surprise and an experience with another special group of St. Joseph’s Care Group staff. “It was nine months after retirement that I had a stroke. My rehabilitation was at St. Joseph’s Hospital, they take a lot of time and effort and expertise with rehabilitation. They helped me get back to a place where I could function again.”

Once he was better, Frank wanted to give back for all the care and got in touch with the St. Joseph’s Foundation.

“I asked, ‘how can I help?’ I was invited to become a Director and it just progressed from that to being on the Executive and now being the Chair of the Foundation’s Board.”

The Board will sometimes tour facilities. “I always ask, ‘how many more of these (pieces of equipment) do you need?’ And lots of times the staff will say, ‘we always have a need for new and additional equipment which is keeping up with technology.’”

“When my mom was in Bethammi, they didn’t have enough of the hoyer lifts to safely lift her out of her bed. We saw the need to ensure the safety of both clients and the staff when doing transfers. I am happy to see that each year additional hoyer lifts are installed and available.”

Frank says the more he got involved, the more he learned that many people don’t know what and how much the Care Group does.

“Then you tell them, ‘well, I’m a stroke survivor.’ Oh yeah, they understand. ‘You go there for physiotherapy… or maybe your parents have to go into long-term care, but it’s so much more.’”

“Once the community knows and understands all that the Care Group does in and for our community, I think then they’ll really understand the scope of everything and the amount of people that they touch, and the amount of funding that they need.”

Frank says that if he could say anything to people who are reading this it’s to “reach out and do something… it would be to give of your time or to donate and support their need for equipment and care. It doesn’t necessarily have to be with the Care Group, there are a lot of groups out there that need volunteers.”

“If everybody can help with one small part, it makes it a lot easier for the people who are doing the heavy lifting.”

Finally, it’s important to thank those people. “We always thank them after but sometimes we forget to thank them before. It’s a tough job.”