Beloved doctor feted for 43 years of service
GORE BAY—St. Joseph’s Lodge feted Dr. Robert Hamilton with a party in his honour for his over 40 years of service as Medical Director at the long-term care facility.
“I have great respect for all the nurses, personal support workers, and administrators who have worked here over the years that I have served here,” said Dr. Hamilton, at the party held at St. Joseph’s Lodge last Friday for his efforts over 43 years as a dedicated medical director at the facility. “One of those people was Marie Foster, a legendary registered nurse. I have learned so much from everyone here over the years and from so many other nurses and PSWs. What these people do is critically important, and they provide great care and compassion to the residents of the lodge.”
In welcoming everyone on hand for Dr. Hamilton’s’ retirement from St. Joseph’s, Jaime Lynn-Kalmikov, administrator said, “Dr. Hamilton has been a dedicated medical director for our home what I have been told is over 40 years. This is truly admirable for the dedication he has shown to our home, the residents, families and community.
photos by Tom Sasvari
“Speaking to people about Dr. Hamilton’s retirement from the lodge, the words that are used are: kind, holistic, really cares about the people who he is taking care of, he is interested in their story and who they are. He is well spoken and takes the time with his residents and patients,” said Ms. Kalmikov. “I personally have always appreciated Dr. Hamilton’s wisdom and the knowledge that he has shared with us over the last few years.”
Ms. Kalmikov explained, “Dr. Hamilton has cared for countless residents in our home, and so many more people out in the community. Your dedication to our lodge and community is exceptional. We wish you all the best with your retirement from the lodge and in the future from your clinic (Gore Bay Medical Centre). We hope you and Dr. (Shelagh) McRae both enjoy the well-deserved downtime.”
“Thank you again for your service to Manitoulin Lodge and now St. Joseph’s Lodge. Please join us in a round of applause for Dr. Hamilton,” added Ms. Kalmikov.
“Last Thursday Shelagh showed me an advertisement in the paper about this retirement party, and said ‘you had better attend that event’,” quipped Dr. Hamilton. “I thank everyone for being here today,” he said noting, “I would like to take a few minutes to indulge myself and some of the observations I have had since I started to work here.”
“I am so grateful and honoured to have been able to work in long term care,” said Dr. Hamilton.
In 1982 Dr. Hamilton and his wife, Dr. McRae began their work in Gore Bay. “At that time the Prime Minister of Canada was a fellow named Pierre Trudeau. His son Justin was in primary school.”
“Social media at the time meant meeting face to face,” said Dr. Hamilton. “Television and radio was still big, and a gap toothed American, comedian David Letterman, made his debut on television.”
The population in the town of Gore Bay in 1982 was about 800 people, said Dr. Hamilton. “This nursing home was built in the 1970s as a wave of nursing home facilities were constructed,” said Dr. Hamilton. “A lot of the homes at the time were designed more similar to institutional facilities rather than having a home like atmosphere.”
Dr. Hamilton said “in the early ‘80s I met and cared for a centenarian for the first time. I realized and learned that his values and beliefs were different than mine. He had been around since the 1880s and we came from a different time and place.”
Dr. Hamilton said in the 1970-1980s doctors were often criticized for being too focused on body parts when it came to health care. “Doctors would say someone on the fourth floor had sustained a heart attack. I don’t think they were being mean, but the thought was a little disjointed in looking at the full person. Here at the Lodge staff would say that its uncle Bill that had a heart attack in room 20, and that he had constructed their cottage a few years earlier, but now he was in the Lodge due to having dementia. Not only was it important to remember that it was the whole person we had to look at, but they were also members of a family.”
“I’m reminded of two other incidents as well,” said Dr. Hamilton. “Years ago, I was doing rounds here, and there was a lady in her 90s I was caring for. She was worried about her daughter and about what she was going to do when she passed away. The lesson I learned from this is you never stop being a parent and loving your children, whether they are very young or frail and elderly.”
“In providing end of life care, 25 years later I was treating that same lady’s daughter in the nursing home. We discussed her life and her family and how important they are,” said Dr. Hamilton.
Dr. Hamilton said as the Lodge “goes forward it is going to have new owners and a new location. There is a wonderful future ahead in long term care.”
He explained Dr. Chantelle Wilson, “who does a fantastic job in our medical clinic, will continue to provide this excellent service in taking over as medical director at the Lodge. She will be working with three other doctors in the years to come who also have a lot of dedication and skills. I want to thank everyone here today. It has been a pleasure to provide service to you.”
