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The first thing you notice when you enter Art and Susan McLaughlin’s home in Halifax, where they have lived together for more than 50 years, is how peaceful it is and their warm and inviting smiles.
For 61 years, the couple has been inseparable. They married just six months after meeting in 1963 when Art was an engineering student at the Technical University of Nova Scotia and Susan was a registered nurse at the VG Hospital.
Over the years, the couple has created many memories, particularly while living abroad in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, before returning to Halifax in the late 1960s. While there, Art served in the British Territorial Army and continued his engineering studies through a scholarship at Newcastle University.
When it became clear a few years ago that Susan was experiencing dementia, Art took on the role of Susan’s primary caregiver. However, this past September, Art began having health issues and was admitted to hospital in Halifax. At that time, the couple’s daughter arranged for interim 24-hour private care for her mom.
The doctors were uncertain if Art could return home, and it seemed the couple would need to consider long-term care placement for Susan. Continuing Care was contacted to discuss care options for Art to support him when he returned home and to develop a care plan for Susan.
“Continuing Care came alongside our family when Dad was in the hospital and I wasn’t sure if he would return home,” said Art and Susan’s daughter, Jennifer McLaughlin. “With Continuing Care, I felt like I was no longer on my own. They also provided oversight from an administrative perspective for the support our family needed.”
With a mix of private and publicly funded care for Susan, Art returned home. Not long after he returned home, Art began receiving some support from Continuing Care, including meal preparation and light housekeeping.
Art shared that the support from Continuing Care enabled him to “carry on caring for their home.” Although he appreciates the assistance, Art still prefers to handle most of the tasks related to maintaining their home by himself as it helps him stay physically active.
Through Continuing Care, ParaMed Home Health Care Services visits the McLaughlin’s home daily to provide Susan with personal care, such as dressing, bathing and meal preparation. The plan was for Susan to eventually transition to a long-term care facility. However, not long after Art returned home from hospital, he found that with Continuing Care support he was strong enough to care for her, and the overnight and weekend care was discontinued.
“Starting in September, we were able to begin providing support at home for Susan during the day and the McLaughlins were able to decrease the private care to overnight care and weekends,” said Kristin Carmont, the couple’s Continuing Care care coordinator.
Art continues to take Susan to the hairdresser regularly to get her hair done, and, up until recently, the two enjoyed frequent lunch dates at the Officer’s Mess at the Royal Artillery Park and the Ardmore Tea Room in Halifax. “We have had a long and happy marriage, and it is important to maintain our togetherness as a couple,” said Art.
“Continuing Care supported our family to get back to the business of living,” said Jennifer. “Our care coordinator, Kristin, is so professional and has a lot of experience. She held my hand and my father’s hand throughout the process and developed a care plan for my dad and mom,” said Jennifer.
“In recent weeks, Susan’s health has begun to decline, and she is now receiving daily care (7 days a week) from Continuing Care, and we have also recently added nursing support from VON to provide care as needed,” said Kristin. “Our program is flexible and adapts to the changing needs of clients.”
With support from Continuing Care, Art (87) and Susan (85) are happily still together in the home. Although they don’t know what tomorrow will bring, they are content to take things day by day as long as they are together.
If you or a loved one need help staying in your home or require support after a recent hospital stay in Nova Scotia, you can contact Nova Scotia Health Continuing Care for assistance. To get more information or to make a referral, please call 1-800-225-7225 (toll-free in Nova Scotia). Continuing Care will collaborate with you or your loved one to create a personalized care plan that suits your needs. For further details, visit https://www.nshealth.ca/continuing-care.