Then and now: Deer Lodge celebrates 100 years

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 16/05/2016 (3732 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s safe to say that Deer Lodge Centre (2109 Portage Ave.) has had as full and transformational a life as many of its residents over the last 100 years.

On June 29, the care home and treatment facility will be celebrating one century of housing and treating the city’s veterans and seniors, as well as leading the way in many facets of personal care.”

Deer Lodge has a bed capacity of 429, with 155 personal care beds reserved for veterans. The centre operates as a care home, for those who need minimal medical care; a ‘lodge’ facility that houses those with chronic illnesses; a PRIME centre, which allows residents living at home somewhere to go for activities and care, and a medical centre, among others.

Communications co-ordinator Steve St. Louis said that while the centre is always working towards improved comfort and efficiency for the residents, one philosophy has been a cornerstone in their work:

“If you’re coming here, you’re coming here to live,” St. Louis said. “So we have the mentality and philosophy that they don’t live in our workplace, we work in their homes, and to treat that with respect.”

St. Louis adds that downsizing from even a small apartment to a room in a care home can be challenging for residents, who then have to get rid of many of their possessions, give up driving a vehicle, and abide by a schedule for meals and curfew.

It’s not easy.

To help ease a resident into their new routine, they are matched with a team of Deer Lodge staff which includes a social worker and a dietitian.

“The social worker gets to know about the person and their interests and their likes, dislikes,” St. Louis said. “They find out what activities the resident likes, be it curling, or bowling.”

Both activities are available to residents, as well as day trips, movie nights, bingo and fitness activities, for those who are able and interested.

“They have a good quality of life here,” St. Louis said.

And that seems to have been true for the last 100 years. Deer Lodge has led the way in medical advances such as building and operating the first dialysis machine in Western Canada, housing the first geriatric pharmacology research unit and pioneering orthopedic surgical techniques.

Before Deer Lodge began its life as a medical facility in 1916, it was a small, peak-roofed hotel with a view of the Assiniboine River. With the onset of the First World War, Deer Lodge became a convalescent hospital for returning soldiers in varying states of health. Up to this day, it is considered primarily a veteran’s hospital, although it has become so much more.

The centre has now been witness to both World Wars, a century of Winnipeg life and the comings and goings of thousands of residents, patients, staff and volunteers.

A history of volunteering

At 106 years old, Ardith Alexander is one of the only volunteers who can claim a longer history than Deer Lodge Centre. Until recently, she had been volunteering with the centre for over 20 years, but her involvement began before that.

Alexander’s husband, Alec, was a resident at Deer Lodge for 16 years before passing away, which for Alexander meant many days and nights spent at the centre.

“He was a veteran so it was normal to be at Deer Lodge,” she said. “I think everyone who knew Deer Lodge valued having their person there… I can’t think of any patient that we had there at any time that was involved with us, that they hadn’t been a veteran.”

Alexander saw first-hand the difference it made for her husband and others with worsening health to be surrounded by volunteers and activities to take part in, and has been helping with bingo at the centre.

“You know wherever you go, bingo turns up somewhere,” she said. “It amazes me how important bingo is to the people. It’s because everybody understands it.”

More than something to do every week, Deer Lodge has been a second home for Alexander — one filled with familiar faces. That connection kept her coming back long after her husband had passed away.

 “It’s always been a part of my life and I know the staff so well and they know me so well. Many of the people who were around, it seems to me like a family gathering sort of affair, where I know them and they know me.”

As a former schoolteacher, Alexander found herself referring students to Deer Lodge when they were in need. In particular, she remembers a student named Harry.

“Dear Harry, I was just looking at him here,” Alexander said as she pulled out an old photograph. “He was a real character, he was the kind of kid who liked to hang around the school after school hours to talk.”

Deer Lodge today

100 years later, Deer Lodge is moving forward and growing to accommodate not only the needs of veterans, but also the city’s aging population.

Some things have remained the same, like Chad’s Bar — a coffee and drink spot on the second floor where residents can visit with family and friends — which has been open for the last 25 years.

However with additions like PRIME, Deer Lodge continues to change.

“PRIME is where 40 or 50 people who live at home get dropped off in the morning,” St. Louis said.

During the day it gives participants a chance to socialize, play games, listen to lectures and receive minor care.

“The idea is to try to keep people living at home as long as possible so these places don’t fill up unnecessarily,” St. Louis said.

For a look at more Deer Lodge history, visit http://www.deerlodge.mb.ca/aboutReflections.html