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FAQs for Patients and Families
FAQs for Referring Professionals
Patients and Families
| I don't drive. How would I travel to
my therapy appointments and how often would I need to
attend? |
| Many of our patients have a
spouse or other family or friend drive them to appointments
at the day hospital. Other patients travel by Wheel-Trans
or taxi. If you qualify for Wheel-Trans service, our staff
can assist you in completing the necessary documentation.
We find that two half days a week is ideal for patient
therapy. Most patients attend therapy for up to three
months.
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| I'm too old for therapy. Why would I
bother? |
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Our therapists would disagree with you on that point.
Patients in our program range in age from 65 to 99.
Our services are about helping you be as independent
as possible, however you define that. Common goals are
often related to managing chronic pain, walking unassisted,
managing everyday activities, and continuing with things
you love to do.
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| My parent is a patient in your program.
How can I be involved in his/her therapy? Is there help
available for family members to cope with the changes?
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We encourage family members to be involved in a number
of ways; you may attend therapy sessions to learn how
to provide support at home once your father is discharged.
Families are also involved in the planning of goals
and in regular family conferences with staff. You may
also choose to talk with the social worker, assigned
to your father, to discuss community supports for your
father in the home, or in a nursing home if required.
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| How do you help patients continue to
improve once they are discharged? |
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We believe that therapy learned at Toronto Rehab is
simply a dress rehearsal for going home. We equip patients,
and their families, with the understanding and knowledge
to continue therapy on their own once at home. Many
of our patients also continue therapy at Toronto Rehab,
or elsewhere, on an outpatient basis. Finally, before
a patient is discharged, our team ensures that the patient
has the proper supports at home, and in the community,
to continue to improve. Patients often go home first
on a weekend pass, a type of dry run for the discharge
day. Staff will also conduct a home visit, if needed,
to make recommendations, and to determine if physical
modifications need to be made.
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| Do your services require a physician's
referral? |
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Not all of our services require a physician's referral.
Review our directory
of services to determine if the service you need
requires a medical referral.
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| I'm not a young man. Will
I be able to keep up with my therapy? |
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Not a problem because therapy is conducted at your
pace. You work one-to-one with a therapist who will
encourage you to do your best, but therapy is not a
competition. In fact, because your needs and goals are
different from those of other patients your rehabilitation
program is unique to you.
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| What is your policy on restraints? |
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Toronto Rehab's policy is to use the minimum level
of restraint (both physical and medication) required
to ensure the safety of patients. Restraining patients
is used only when all other alternatives have been fully
exhausted. Restraints are always temporary and used
only after an assessment and consultation between the
patient, substitute decision-maker and the care team.
If restraints are being considered for your relative,
you will be asked to authorize their use. You may ask
for and attend a team meeting to discuss the issue.
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| Do you allow family members to make
medical and other decisions on behalf of the patient? |
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Patients who are capable of making their own health
care decisions have the legal right to make informed
health care treatment decisions. Patients or their substitute
decision-maker can legally consent to, or refuse, treatment
once they have been informed of their choices and appreciate
the consequences of each choice.
Under the Ontario Health Care Consent Act, patients
admitted to this program who are incapable of making
health care decisions for themselves or about their
own care must have a substitute decision-maker. The
substitute decision-maker may be a holder of a continuing
Power of Attorney for Personal Guardian. Patients who
are capable of making their own health care decisions
can also complete an Advance Directive for Health and
Personal Care and state in this directive their wishes
for future treatment should they become incapable of
making such decisions. Toronto Rehab will respect all
valid Advance Health Care Directives (AD).
Discussions about treatment decisions will take place
upon admission with the attending physician and can
be discussed with other members of the team as appropriate.
Documentation of treatment decisions will guide the
physician and team during the patient's stay on the
unit and in the event that the patient requires acute
treatment.
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| Do you allow patients to
return home on the weekend? |
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While this is determined in conjunction with your team,
weekend passes are generally available to help you prepare
for discharge and to gauge how well you will manage.
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| My mother wanders. How do
you ensure that she is safe on your Alzheimer's unit? |
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The Geriatric Psychiatry Service is a secure environment
for the protection of patients who may wander. The unit
is equipped with magnetically secured doors and surveillance
cameras for patient safety and security. Upon admission,
a photograph of each patient is taken for identification
purposes. Each patient also wears a security bracelet
that will trigger an alarm when exiting the unit.
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Referring Professionals
| What is the average length of stay? |
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Length of stay varies, but usually is anywhere from
four to six weeks on our inpatient units. Before discharge,
our team ensures that the individual has the proper
level of support in the community. Patients in our outpatient
services usually attend therapy for three months.
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| How long will it take for a patient
I refer to be seen? |
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Wait times vary among our different services though
we can usually see a patient within a reasonable period
of time. When helping a patient apply please be sure
to include all necessary documentation to speed up the
referral process.
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| What services do you offer? |
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We offer inpatient, outpatient and outreach services
for geriatrics with physical, mental, emotional and
social problems. For a full list of services and admissions
criteria visit our Guidebook
for Referring Professionals. All of our services
are offered at University
Centre located in downtown Toronto.
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| I have a patient who is not yet a "senior"
but who would benefit from your services. Should I refer
this person? |
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Absolutely. If this person meets the criteria in all
other ways it is likely he would be accepted. Please
speak with the admissions coordinator for more information.
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| I have a patient who meets the admission
criteria but is too frail to complete a rehab program. |
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Frankly, many of our patients would fit into the frail
category. Each patient can benefit from our program
in his or her own way. We would recommend that you call
an admissions coordinator to arrange an assessment.
If this person meets our criteria our team would then
develop an individualized therapy program addressing
any issues and that builds on remaining strengths.
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