 |
Grant helps rehabilitation patients feel better
|
|
 |
|
|
February 23, 2010
|
|
 Patients at St. Joseph Hospital’s inpatient rehabilitation unit are getting a chance to feel refreshed and rejuvenated thanks to a grant from the hospital volunteers. The grant has enabled the unit to bring local beautician Jee Eanni-Rheinschmidt to the department once a week to offer her services to patients.
Eanni-Rheinschmidt, a hairstylist who has been practicing for over 30 years, comes in and lifts the spirits of the rehabilitation patients, offering them shampoos and sets, scalp massages, and friendly conversation.
“It helps with patients’ self esteem,” she explained. “I know how I felt being in the hospital. When someone is there to pamper you a little bit – wash your hair, comb your hair – it changes everything.”
The program started in January and has become quite popular with the patients. As word travels, more patients are asking to be scheduled for a haircut.
“Having Jee come in, she makes patients smile and works around their very busy schedules,” said Jim Peaker, director of Rehabilitation Services at St. Joseph Hospital. “We know that this program makes a difference. It can change a person’s entire mood.”
Patient Marjorie Chunfat praised both for the rehabilitation staff and the hairstylist program, saying she doesn’t feel like herself when her hair is dirty and that she looks forward to her once-a-week shampooing.
“The staff is here to help you and build you up emotionally,” she said. “I can honestly say I could not be in better hands anywhere else. These people are expert at what they do. I can’t say enough about the staff here. They are very caring. They help you with your morale and give you confidence.”
And getting her hair shampooed is one thing – getting it styled is pampering on a completely different level. “You know what that does for you?” she said. “It makes you feel like you just won the lottery.”
St. Joseph Hospital’s award-winning medical inpatient unit is located on the second floor of the General Hospital campus. The St. Joseph Hospital volunteers offer grants to hospital departments as a result of their fundraising efforts, which includes proceeds from the hospital gift shops.
For more information about this program or services offered by St. Joseph Hospital’s inpatient rehab unit, call (707) 445-8121, ext. 4457
|
|
|