Hummingbird Lodge ready to accept patients

The eight bed Hummingbird Lodge located at the North Bay Regional Health Centre is getting ready to accept its first patient.

Jennifer Moore is the centre’s Director of Mental Health and Addictions and Forensic Services.

She says the first patient is expected next month and they’ll see patients from across Ontario.

“I’m very excited because there aren’t many programs in which the staff all start at the same time and can be truly part of building a mission and vision of values for the program. They’re developing a rapport which is so key in the success of our patients,” she says.

She says they’ll have 22 employees and they’ve all undergone four weeks of training.

Moore says each female patient on average will stay between 1-3 years.

Chief Occupational Therapist Breanna May says there’ll be individual and group therapy.

“We focus specifically on trauma and substance use which are often intertwined,” May says.

Moore says this is a unique facility.

“There aren’t that many programs in Ontario that are trauma informed. Our focus is working with these woman that have struggled in moving forward with their recovery. Our focus is offering a wide array of services that are tailored to their unique needs,” Moore says.

She says the patients will be transferred from an existing forensic facility.

“A lot of these woman have had a lot of control taken away from them as part of their process within the forensic system. This is a place we want to give that back and empower them to be a part of their recovery, to take charge of their recovery and to own that,” she says.

May says overall these patients have experienced trauma that has led to a personality disorder and a mental illness.

She says all the bedrooms are in one long hallway which is good for security and supervision by staff. As well, there’s a spiritual room and a comfort room.

(photos submitted by Regan Pictures)