On the Road Again
Award-winning trip program resumes for residents.
You could almost hear the wheels turning in the heads of residents when they learned that the Respiratory Care Center’s award-winning personal daytrip program was resuming.
Shopping? Movies? The zoo? Home? Oh, the places they would go.
After being sidelined for three years because of the Covid pandemic, the engine of the sleek customized van that takes residents on daytrips began to hum again in April of 2023, much to the delight of patients and staff alike.
fun places, far and wide.
“The trip program is vital for our residents’ overall wellbeing and their healing process,” said Lora Beth McKee, director of social services. “It’s restorative for them just to get out for the day and be on the move to a destination that they know they will enjoy.”
of his favorite University of Kentucky basketball players.
resident Teddy Fulton for a personal day trip.
PERSONAL TRIP PROGRAM Q & A:
HOW DOES THE PROGRAM WORK?
Residents or their family members can request a personal trip through the Activity Staff on the date/ time of their choosing (generally Tuesday – Thursday, however, we on occasion can accommodate a special trip request on another day – such as a wedding, graduation, family reunion, etc).
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE PLACES THEY GET TO GO?
Out to eat, movies, shopping, casino, parks, concerts, family reunions, weddings, graduations – pretty much anywhere that they request that can be safely managed by trip personnel. At this time, trips are limited to 3 hours to accommodate as many residents as possible to ensure all interested residents can have a trip if they desire – we try to keep them in Rockcastle or surrounding counties due to time restraints.
HOW DOES THIS BENEFIT THE PATIENTS?
It enhances their quality of life – allowing them to get out of the facility for the day and participate in activities that they were accustomed to before their illness/hospitalization.
WHO DRIVES/RIDES WITH THE PATIENT?
Generally, a nurse and a RT accompany the residents on their personal trips.
HOW OFTEN DO THEY GET TO GO ON TRIPS?
Staff try to schedule a personal trip for the resident monthly – of course, this depends on the volume of trip requests that we have at any given time.