Centre of Attention: Mom Katie MacDonald (centre), shown holding her daughter Nova, is thankful that care provided by Five Counties Children’s Centre is close to home. Her family is benefitting from therapy services provided by Five Counties staff members (from left) Speech-Language Pathologist Kate Wentzel, Physiotherapist Stephanie Miske and Occupational Therapist Nicole Vreewyk. Image submitted

The Centre Offers physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and more

‘I Couldn’t be Happier Having it So Close to Home,’ Katie MacDonald.

Trent Hills - “Shake, shake, shake… bang, bang, bang.”

Occupational Therapist Nicole Vreeswyk’s coaxing is starting to pay dividends with one-year-old Nova Kruger. Slowly, but surely, Nicole urges Nova on and finally succeeds in getting the bright-eyed toddler to shake the rattle in unison to the beat. “Yaaaay!” Nicole says, beaming almost as brightly as the young girl in her charge.

Nova is the centre of attention this day at a Centre for children’s treatment in Campbellford.

Five Counties Children’s Centre has had a presence in Campbellford since 1995, but its presence in the lower level of the Multi-Care Lodge on Oliver Road may be one of the community’s best-kept secrets.

“Not everyone realizes Five Counties is present in Campbellford,” Nicole concurs. “Knowing it’s here is a real benefit. It saves families from having to drive to Cobourg or Peterborough for care.”

Five Counties Children’s Centre treats clients from infancy to their late teens, offering physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, and more. Through outpatient and community-based services, Five Counties aims to enrich the independence and quality of life for the thousands of clients and families it serves in Northumberland County, Peterborough City-County, City of Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton County.

Face-to-face meeting: One-year-old Nova is benefitting from treatment at Five Counties Children’s Centre in Campbellford, including Occupational Therapist Nicole Vreewyk. Image submitted

In Campbellford, the care Nova is receiving this day at her monthly therapy clinic is not only from Nicole, but two other Five Counties staff members: Physiotherapist Stephanie Miske and Speech-Language Pathologist Kate Wentzel. The three provide physio, occupational and speech therapies for Nova, who was born with Down Syndrome and referred to Five Counties for support by her family physician.

It’s therapy sessions like this one for which Nova’s mom, Katie MacDonald is extremely grateful. “I didn’t know Five Counties could be so helpful,” Katie notes.

Initially, Katie took Nova for treatment at the Five Counties location in Cobourg. When told the family could access treatment in Campbellford, they jumped at the chance.

“Campbellford is only 15 minutes from home, so it made accessing care much easier,” Katie says. “I get so much support from everyone at Five Counties who has been part of (Nova’s) team helping us in this journey. I couldn’t be happier having it so close to home.”

Five Counties Children’s Centre is located in the lower level of the Multi-Care Lodge near the Campbellford hospital. Image submitted

Elizabeth Carmichael, the Program Manager at Five Counties who oversees its programs and services in Northumberland, echoes the point. “In Trent Hills, we’re in this little pocket where it’s far for families to go, so it’s really nice to be able to provide services for them in their community,” she adds.

This past spring, Five Counties doubled the clinical space for therapies at the location it rents in the Multi-Care Lodge in Campbellford. However, the care doesn’t end there.

In addition to its Campbellford location, Five Counties staff also provide therapy services in schools throughout east Northumberland. Recently, Five Counties also began offering treatment services in Brighton. This is in addition to its main Northumberland site in Cobourg.

“We’re proud to serve Northumberland through all our sites, because there is always a need for these important services,” Elizabeth notes.