 Testimonials
"Because I work during the day, I worry about my Mother’s well being and about her feelings of loneliness. I needed someone to come to our home and just spend some time with her.
The ideal person would have medical training and a friendly demeanor, and would go through some physical exercises that my Mother’s doctor recommended.
Recreational Respite offers the exact service that I was looking for. Our caregiver is Laurie. She is a very friendly upbeat person with a bubbly personality that my mother looks forward to seeing every week. They sit and chat together and later do some exercises under Laurie’s watchful eye. At the end of the session, my mother is happy, rejuvenated, and I get a progress report from Laurie on the days events. I’m very happy with the service, and with my Mother’s progress."
- Peter, Son/Caregiver
"Dad is on a waitlist into a day program as well as long term care home - the CCAC told us the wait could be one year until he is accepted into our 1st or 2nd choice. He is at home currently and really can’t be left alone. We have personal support worker’s coming in on a weekly basis to help with getting my Dad up in the morning but we really needed to keep him active and alert as he tends to sleep all day. For awhile we thought we were preparing for his death since he was really not responsive to much of what we were doing for him. He becomes agitated at times throughout the day and it was taking its toll on our Mother.
The CCAC referred us to Recreational Respite and when I called, Amy MacFarlane explained about how therapeutic programming could really benefit his engagement level and thus decrease his sleeping habits throughout the day. They were right, they wrote a program with someone coming to see him 2x a week and they are writing his memoirs. I can’t believe the difference in him and we are not preparing for his death anymore, but his rebirth.
THANK YOU to Jennifer and the rest of the team at Recreational Respite."
- Lorraine, Daughter
"My Husband has the beginnings of dementia and he was really taking a toll on me as his caregiver. He is very active and I am just not that young anymore. I asked my local Alzheimer Society where I could get someone that could come into my house and keep him busy while I attended my own social groups. They gave me the phone number to call Recreational Respite. It was the most refreshing phone call I have made in a long time! The approach that was given to me was helpful, supportive and I didn’t feel guilty about wanting to get out and do something for me.
The team designed a program that had someone come to my house on a weekly basis. They are taking him to a local nursing home once a week to play the piano for the residents there. I thought this was just incredible since my Husband has dementia himself! He lights up when Joanna comes to the door and I think he knows that he’s going to entertain people and make them dance, this makes me happy!
THANK YOU"
- Maggie, Wife/Caregiver
"My Mom has suffered from a Stroke and was recently discharged from the Hospital. I really needed someone to be home with her while I worked and I needed someone who could get her up and moving. I was sure that she was slipping into a depressive state due to the loss of her mobility and I called the Stroke unit at Sunnybrook Hospital. They gave me Recreational Respite’s phone number and said that they were specialized in therapeutic programming and community integration techniques.
When I called, I spoke to Amy who was incredibly knowledgeable about my Mom’s most recent journey. She came and did an assessment within two days of my call and within the week she had designed a very in-depth exercise program specifically for my Mom. She also created a piece called Community Connections which gave me services that could further assist my Mom to help us with all of our at home care needs. Truly remarkable support, thank you to Amy and your very special team!"
- Bev, Daughter
"My Mother has been suffering from depression and has isolated herself. She also has some memory impairment. She had been in and out of the Hospital for anxiety and she was getting too much for me to handle with her loss of memory skills and her lack of interest in doing anything at home. I asked the occupational therapy team at St. Michael’s for some advice and a good referral in the community who could help me get Mother engaged and happy again. They quickly referred me to the expertise of Recreational Respite. Amy completed an assessment that helped her understand Mother before her memory issues and she designed an in-depth companionship program with her team member, Laurie. She also pointed me to the process and people responsible for getting Mother into a day program in our neighborhood.
I was truly not getting things done for Mother and through encouragement and support Recreational Respite initiated and made it happen. Mother is now seeing Laurie (team member from Recreational Respite) 1X a week and just loves her visits and exercise program. She is also now attending day programs at West Toronto Support Services and really enjoying herself again! This slow transition back into the community has been helpful for Mother and me. Thank you so much for all that you have done and continue to do Recreational Respite!"
- Michael, Son/Caregiver
"I am a caregiver in Mississauga who had family visiting from Alberta and I needed a few days off from my responsibilities to entertain and enjoy the grand kids. Unfortunately my wife is disabled with Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis and I needed help. My first call was to our local MS office who gave me a list of companies who might be able to help. On the list was "Recreational Respite Inc." who was quite frankly extremely receptive to my needs.
We met and completed a very detailed, but non-invasive assessment, which included a complete history of my Wife. This professional approach gave me the reassurance I needed to proceed to make the commitment which allowed me and the family to have a wonderful carefree time away from home. A program was developed to meet our specific needs and at the same time I felt the fee was reasonable.
Thank you 'Amy and Team Recreational Respite'."
- Paul, Husband/Caregiver
We have recently been able to arrange an in-service for our Recreation Therapists within our hospital and everyone was pleased and excited by what they heard about this new service - a great complimentary service that really is about the patient. Our own therapeutic recreationists will be referring patients to this valuable service.
- Michelle, OT
What an innovative and personalized service that truly aids those individuals that are in transitional periods of their lives. Fantastic Job Team RecRespite!
- Lisa, SW
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