Twelve Restorative Care beds will opened at Grey Bruce Health Services in Owen Sound this month.
President and CEO Maureen Solecki tells Bayshore Broadcasting News the Restorative Care Unit will start admitting patients on December 19th.
The 12 beds in Owen Sound are part of a pilot project funded by the Southwest LHIN, that also includes a 10 bed unit in Chesley.
Senior Director for Clinical Services Elaine Burns notes they have hired all their staff, who are currently taking the Georgian College Restorative Care course to get up to speed.
Burns says Restorative Care is a process that helps patients transition from acute care to living at home.
Burns tells Bayshore Broadcasting News that older acute care patients become “deconditioned” the longer they stay in hospital.
She says that means they lose the ability to care for themselves at a rate of about 5 per cent for every day they remain in hospital.
Burns adds patients are monitored and taught how to self manage their own medication, and are encouraged to dress and feed themselves.
She notes they will track how patients improve their self managed care during their stay in Restorative Care, which can be up to 30 days.
