Program will help some hospital patients transition from the emergency department to home while receiving community support
The Niagara Ontario Health Team has launched a new program to help seniors avoid unnecessary stays and receive help at home.
The "Let's Go Home" initiative has received about half a million dollars, which will help some patients leave the emergency department and get community support at home.
The program looks to decrease the number of hospital admissions and placements in acute care beds for people aged 65 and older who have dementia or a non-acute clinical diagnosis.
Officials say this will free up about 300 hospital beds in the area.
Plans will be made based on the needs of each patient.
The services will be available for up to six weeks, with the option to access the service a second time.
"Through the program, emergency department staff will identify patients that meet eligibility criteria and refer them to the LEGHO Navigator, who will then connect people to service agencies," said Carolyn Askeland, Executive Director of Community Support Services of Niagara, the program’s lead organization. "We know about 275 people who match our eligibility criteria visit emergency departments in Niagara every year due to an ailment of a non-urgent nature. The reasons could include greater dependence on care providers, reduced mobility, more assistance with personal care, or not being connected to community agencies equipped to support them in their homes."
Services offered will include meal delivery, transportation from the hospital and for follow-up appointments, homemaking and wellness checks.
The service will be launched later this month.
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