Seven rooms at Kingston General Hospital are now more ‘kid-friendly’ thanks to some recent renovations by the Smilezone Foundation. It’s hoped that the bright and fun new spaces, located in the hospital’s Pediatrics unit and in the Cancer Centre of Southeastern Ontario, will improve the experiences of children while they are in the hospital.
Over the course of three days in late May, the Smilezone team refurbished the spaces by repainting them with vibrant new colours as well as big, bright wall murals. They also installed custom seating and cabinetry to store therapeutic equipment and toys as well as purchased video-game consoles to entertain and engage the children who will be using the rooms.
“Coming to the hospital as a patient or to support a loved-one who is receiving treatment can be a stressful time for anyone. Now imagine having to experience those moments as a child,” says Silvie Crawford, Executive Vice President and Chief Nursing Official at Kingston General Hospital. “These spaces will offer kids a place to experience true reprieve and create a place that will put a smile on a child’s face.”
Not only will the new spaces benefit children who are receiving treatment in the hospital, but will benefit other members of the young families who come to KGH. For example, the newly renovated space in the Cancer Centre has been designed to offer children a place to play while their parents receive treatments.
“Battling cancer while raising a young family was beyond challenging and I hated how much time I had to spend away from my kids when they needed the reassurance of my presence the most,” says former patient Bridget Burke-Purdy. “Having a special room in the Cancer Centre will make it possible for other parents in my situation to include their children in their visits to the oncology department at KGH.”
The Smilezone Foundation’s mission is to create, build and transform areas in hospitals in order to improve the lives of children facing illness, disabilities, and physical and emotional obstacles.
"The Smilezone Foundation is honoured to help improve the experience of young patients and family members at Kingston General Hospital,” says Scott Bachly, Chair of the Smilezone Foundation. “Hospital visits truly affect the entire family, and we’re overjoyed that children, siblings and families will have these new Zones to enjoy.”
