Some people's reluctance of to leave hospital in favour of long-term care facilities has left family members of patients at Huron Lodge puzzled.Some people's reluctance of leaving hospitals in favour of long-term health-care facilities has left family members of patients at Huron Lodge puzzled.

They say nursing homes have major advantages: both for those living there and those visiting them.

George Stewart's wife, Carolyn, has been at Huron Lodge for more than two years. He highly recommends it.

So does the Erie-St. Clair Local Integrated Health Network. It recently ranked Huron Lodge and Aspen Lake as preferred long-term healthcare facilities. Both get high marks for location, privacy and staff.

'There is a comradeship and support that, quite frankly, I don't think hospitals can provide.'— George Stewart

"For the families, there's a comradeship and support group that quite frankly, I don't think hospitals can provide," George Stewart said.

He praised what he called a community of care.

Resident Albert Cockburn heads to the arts and crafts room at Huron Lodge room first thing every morning.

"It's better than watching TV all the time," he said.

The director of resident services takes pride in all the activities at Huron Lodge.

"There's literally something going on every day," Nancy Musson said. "We have many many services available to keep residents as busy as they want to be."

Socialization import to residents, family

Rick Anderson went to hospital in September for pneumonia, but by October he was ready for a nursing home.

His wife, Ann, noticed a change once he no longer needed acute care in the hospital. Rick is now at Huron Lodge.

"I could see they really didn't have time for him [at hospital]," Ann Anderson said.

Socialization, activity and comfort are important at long-term care facilities. The homes provide aspects that acute-care hospitals aren't equipped to offer.

"The main purpose of the people here is to make my husband comfortable and that's not the main purpose in a hospital, it's a secondary purpose," Ann Anderson said. "The hospital is totally different."

Officials at Windsor Regional Hospital said earlier this month that people refuse to leave hospital emergency rooms because they get too comfortable. And Musson doesn't dispute that.

"There's no question people get comfortable in the hospital because it's what they become used to, but if you look at the bigger picture, long-term care facility is a home as opposed to a hospital," Musson said. "We have a quality of life here than you would not get in a hospital."