Recognizing the rapidly growing health needs of the elderly, the Geriatric Rehabilitation Service was established in 1985 to provide intensive rehabilitation and medical care, in conjunction with Toronto General Hospital, to the frail elderly - typically over age 75.
The concept was the same then as it is today: to prevent the permanent hospitalization of the elderly and help seniors regain a level of functioning sufficient to remain independent and in their own home.
This service is part of the Regional Geriatric Program, forming a network of related services and programs for geriatrics across Toronto.
The Geriatric Psychiatry Service was also opened in 1985. Today it continues to provide short-term assessment and treatment of seniors suffering from Alzheimer disease or other dementias. Early on it recognized the need to educate health care professionals, family and the larger community about Alzheimer disease. In 1987 it started the Alzheimer Symposium with the Alzheimer Society of Toronto. Today, this conference has grown into one of the largest Alzheimer related conferences of its kind in Canada.
In 2002, Toronto Rehab and partner University Health Network introduced a combined dialysis and rehabilitation service for seniors. This service was the first of its kind to recognize that while dialysis was allowing seniors to live longer lives, it had also created a new need for specialized rehabilitation services to help this population cope with the complications of aging.