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According to the Ottawa Citizen, Deep River, a community near Ottawa, is the site of a new experimental model for senior care. The project aims to improve cost-efficiency and responsiveness to local needs and is proving to be enormously popular.
From a single facility, North Renfrew Long Term Care Centre offers a full range of services - long-term care,
supportive housing, respite care and day programs. There is also a drop-in centre which encourages volunteers, visitors and relatives to socialize, and a convenient busing service which allows local seniors to be picked up for daytime or social activities. Local seniors even have the benefit of a hot lunch.
The reasoning behind offering such a range of services from one facility is that the economies of smaller communities like Deep River do not make it cost effective or sensible to support single service organizations.
North Renfrew Long Term Care embraces the Gentlecare philosophy, which employs minimal use of sedatives or restraints, and allows seniors to determine their own schedules and activities. The ground floor level of the building has 20 beds set aside for long-term care, while the second level is an very popular supportive-care environment which lets residents enjoy their freedom and autonomy.
Unfortunately, there is already a waiting list. However, if the model is adopted by other communities it may go a long way towards easing the burden on the strained long term care system while also improving the quality of life for many seniors.
Click here to view the full story in the Ottawa Citizen.
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