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About us
De Wingerd is a psycho-geriatric residential
home in the city of Leuven,
named after its location: the vineyards and park of a former monastery,
about 8,65 acres. The complex was renovated in 1986 and currently
accomodates 97 residents, devided over five groups and ten 'service
flats' or rather 'care flats' for couples. Our 'day care center'
welcomes about 20 visitors a day.
By
the end of 2008, all facilities will have moved to a new location.
We are currently building a new servicecenter and residential complex
based on the concept of small-scale living, healthcare automatisation
and the implementation of new techologies. Our new complex will
accomodate 137 residents, a 41 % increase.
De Wingerd specializes in Alzheimer's Dementia
and other dementing illnesses. Our residents find themselves surrounded
by family, friends, volunteers and the professional staff. All of
us are continuously looking to create a warm environment, to establish
excellence and quality in the lives of the residents.
Day-life
is situated in the cosy and comfortable living-rooms, fitted and
furnished as a real family home with a dining corner and kitchenette,
a view on to and access to the gardens. Nights are spent upstairs
in the private bedrooms, on this floor we have a cosy room for breakfast
or an evening snack and a TV lounge, allowing personal bed-hours
and eating habits, as if at home.
For each resident, efforts are made to continue past routines:
people familiar with domestic tasks are invited to pick up these
routines here. Our residents situation and their advanced age may
mean they can only cope with few of these activities. Nevertheless,
as long as some of these are feasible we enacourage people to participate.
Our
home is a closed institution, because of the orientation disorders
of our habitants. However we try to let them keep in touch with
the 'outside world', through regular outings to the market or even
a real holiday at the Belgian coast once a year. Furthermore our
front door is always open for a visit of family and friends, we
don't maintain visiting hours.
Although the general practitioner is freely chosen, there is a
team of 3 doctors and 2 neuro-psychiatrists appointed to De
Wingerd to coordinate treatment and medical care for our
residents. Admission to a hospital is mostly avoided and in permanent
consultation with the nursing team, treatment is always tailored
to the individual needs.
Mortality rates are near to 100 % and the sickness progress is
irreversible, but the emphasis remains on 'quality of life'; to
the last day. Our goals are to take care of and insure decent human
life, supplying a constant and well-coordinated medical and nursing
attention.
De Wingerd also hosts MEMO, the Expertise Centre
on Dementia.
If you care to exchange thoughts, share experiences or expertise,
feel free to contact us at: wingerd@wingerd.info
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