A newly renovated waiting room to support patients in the dual diagnosis program at Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare is already having a calming effect.
The room was renovated with funds raised by the Scerbo family in honour of their son Giovanni. The family has raised over $47,000 over the past ten-plus years to support mental health care programs at the hospital.
The room features comfortable seating and de stimulation pieces to create a calming space for individuals waiting for their appointment.
"There wasn't much in the room before so a lot of our clients would become over stimulated maybe with the busy hospital atmosphere and they'd be pacing throughout the unit which isn't helpful for them or the other patients who are getting treatment," said Operations Manager Josh Strong -Gates.
The Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare Foundation unveiled the space with the help of the Scerbo family at ribbon cutting ceremony this week.
"It's hard to put into words what this means for our family but it helps us to leave a legacy for my brother," said Sestina Prestia. "He was very passionate about brain health, and unfortunately, he wasn't able to give back the way he wanted to so this has given us the opportunity to have his legacy live on."
