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Have a Heart tea thanks Port Moody hospital donors, highlights new drive

Tea and treats were served to nearly 100 donors at Port Moody's Eagle Ridge Hospital today (Wednesday) to thank them for their giving over the past year.

Tea and treats were served to nearly 100 donors at Port Moody's Eagle Ridge Hospital today (Wednesday) to thank them for their giving over the past year. 

The 20th annual Have a Heart tea was hosted by the hospital foundation, which last year raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for specialized medical equipment.

In January, the foundation launched a new drive: A dementia patient safety campaign to stop patients admitted to a second-floor ward from leaving.

Already, with corporate and individual donations, the funding push has brought in $30,000 — more than 60% of the goal, foundation executive director Charlene Giovannetti-King told The Tri-City News.

The fundraiser, which ends next month, involves purchasing 20 wander-guard "watches" that prompt alarms to sound when patients — a growing number of them with dementia — try to exit the ward.

As well, the money will be used to paint a set of doors to resemble a library shelf so patients get distracted and move away. 

"The library doors has been proven to deter patients from lingering by the doors," said Giovannetti-King, whose own mother was diagnosed with dementia five years ago. 

She has seen a similar camouflage wall at Queen's Park in New Westminster and "I was absolutely astounded at how effective it was…. It keeps the patients safe."

• To donate to the ERHF dementia patient safety campaign, call 604-469-3128 or visit erhf.ca/patientsafey.

jcleugh@tricitynews.com