LIFEspan

Thanks to improvements in medical care, people with childhood disabilities are living longer, more active lives.

As they move into adulthood, coordinated health care is critical to help them stay healthy and avoid complications that can lead to hospitalization.

 

Unique Program Connects Young Adults with Services They Need

Children with disabilities receive care through the pediatric rehabilitation system. As they become young adults, the transition to the adult rehabilitation system is not always easy. A unique service created by Toronto Rehab and Bloorview Kids Rehab is changing that.

The LIFEspan Service (Living Independently Fully Engaged) provides youth and young adults who have cerebral palsy or acquired brain injury (ABI) with a “bridge” between pediatric and adult rehabilitation services.

LIFEspan clinics are located at both hospitals. The Bloorview clinic helps young adults aged 16 to 18 to prepare for the transfer. After “graduation” at age 18, the adult clinic at Toronto Rehab provides them with a single point of access for lifelong, comprehensive, coordinated rehabilitation services.

 

Full Range of Services Helps Transition

Toronto Rehab offers a wide range of specialized rehabilitation services to meet the needs of people with disabilities. LIFEspan works closely with Community Care Access Centres (CCACs), Community Health Centres (CHCs), family doctors and other care and support agencies to access even more. Available services include:

• spasticity management

• nutrition counselling

• pain management

• speech language therapy

• mobility assessment and supports

• exercise programs

• supportive counselling

• development of independent living skills such as cooking, learning to drive, managing finances and accessing the public transit system

Interprofessional Approach Enhances Care

LIFEspan clients benefit from the expertise of a wide range of skilled rehabilitation professionals who work together in an interprofessional team.

Some team members work at both Bloorview and Toronto Rehab to provide a reassuring familiar face and to help information sharing across the teams. The LIFEspan service team includes the following professionals:

• life skills facilitator

• nurse practitioner

• occupational therapist

• physiatrist (a doctor specializing in rehabilitation medicine)

• physiotherapist

• social worker

• speech language pathologist

• youth facilitator

Who can access the service?


Young adults with Cerebral Palsy and Acquired Brain Injury transitioning from care at Bloorview Kids Rehab to adult care are eligible for this service.

Toronto Rehab accepts referrals directly from Bloorview Kids Rehab. The service is currently offered at Toronto Rehab’s Rumsey Centre.

For more information, contact Joanne Maxwell, Project Coordinator at 416-597-3422 ext. 5390 or
e-mail maxwell.joanne@torontorehab.on.ca