Who may contact the home for admission?
Contact or referrals may be initiated by the Community Care Access Centre, physicians or other health professionals, family members, friends, community agencies or seniors themselves.

Can my family physician still care for me?
You may still have your family physician look after your needs, provided he or she agrees to do so and can meet specific requirements. We have seven physicians on staff who care for the majority of our residents.

How can a person be admitted to the home?
All applications must be sent to the Community Care Access Centre (CCAC). CCAC coordinates the application process with the resident/family.

How can residents let staff know of their wishes regarding thier care and treatment?
Living Wills/Advance Directives
The freedom to decide one's destiny is the right of every competent person in Canada. This freedom includes the right to accept or refuse specific health care and/or medical treatments.

A living will or advanced directive is a statement of the resident's wishes regarding care and treatment. The purpose of such a statement is to inform the physicians and nursing staff or your care choices. This will ensure that the care you wish to have can be planned for and implemented.

Many residents have particular wishes regarding medical procedures such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or medical treatments such as antibiotics. Some residents wish to be transferred to hospital and receive treatment including advanced life support for all health crises, while others wish to stay at the SHC and receive comfort measures. The choice is yours.

We want to hear from you - the resident. We believe that many residents are able to capably instruct us regarding their care wishes. Once you have determined your wishes, you can indicate your decision to us by using the Living Will/Advanced Directives Form. A copy of this form will be placed on the front of your chart so all professional care staff will be able to access your wishes.

If you are too ill to make decisions, family members or powers of attorney/guardians must make decisions on your behalf. These decisions often cause guilt or conflict and can be very difficult to make at a time of crisis. You can help avoid conflict later on by discussing your wishes in advance with your family, guardian, or the person who holds power of attorney for personal decisions. You may also designate a substitute decision maker who will make decisions if you are unable to do so. Discussing your wishes ahead of time makes it more possible for your health care team to act on your wishes.

You must designate a primary contact or substitute decision maker when you are admitted, and keep the information up-to-date. This person will be contact in an emergency, or in other less urgent situations, or if there is a change in health status. The name and phone numbers of your substitute decision maker and next of kin will be listed on the front of your chart.

You or your substitute decision maker can alter your decision regarding your future health at any time, especially if your condition changes. Let your wishes be known to the health care team - we will always respect and support your expressed wishes.

For further information please call (416) 756-0066.

What does it cost to live at the Seniors' Health Centre?
The Centre provides accommodation in private, semi-private and standard rooms. Rates are established by the Government of Ontario and are available upon request.

Are there pets at the Seniors' Health Centre?
Yes. The Centre has resident fish and birds. These friends provide many hours of enjoyment to staff and residents alike. We have several dog and cat visitors as well.

What is the smoking policy?
The Centre supports a smoke-free environment. To accommodate the small group of smokers, there is one designated smoking area for residents only. Visitors, staff and families are not permitted to smoke in the Centre.

Can I bring my own furniture?
All rooms at the Centre have standard furnishings. However, we encourage residents to bring familiar personal objects such as paintings, photographs, and comforters. Televisions, telephones, easy chairs and similar items can also be arranged by families.

Can I take a leave of absence from the Centre without losing my bed?
Several types of leaves of absence are available to all residents. They include: casual leave; vacation leave; medical leave; and, psychiatric leave. A bed may be held for up to 21 days following medical leaves.

What type of consultant services are available at the Centre?
Many consultation services can be arranged when your doctor requests them. These include physiotherapy, chiropody and dental services, among others.