Seniors Health | Cambridge Memorial Hospital

Seniors Health Services

Seniors Health Services offers specialized inpatient and outpatient geriatric services to seniors living Cambridge, North Dumfries and Region of Waterloo.

female-physician-working-with-a-senior-patient

The Seniors Health Service at CMH consists of a team of health care professionals working together in the medical evaluation of an older person. These specialists look at the person holistically and provide a geriatric assessment, consultation, treatment, and education to the patient, families and caregivers.

The CMH Geriatric team comprises of talented clinicians from across the hospital:

Inpatient Consultation Teams

Geriatrician
Advance Practice nurse
Elder Life Specialist for the Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP)

Emergency Department

Geriatric Emergency Management (GEM) nurse

Seniors Health Clinic

Geriatrician
Nurse Practitioner (NP)
Geriatric Medicine NP Outreach to Long-term care (LTC)
Specialized Geriatric Services (SGS) outreach Nurse Practitioners in collaboration with Geriatrician, as needed

Cambridge Memorial Hospital has inpatient programs that provide support to older adults during admission.

HELP (Hospital Elder Life Program)

The Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP) is an innovative and evidenced-based approach that helps to prevent functional decline and delirium in older adults during their admission to hospital. HELP was developed by Dr. Sharon Inouye at Yale University School of Medicine in 1999 and is now recognized as the leading delirium-prevention program for older adults around the world.

Activity Care Cart

The Activity Care Cart is a staff-led initiative available on Medicine units. These items are provided by staff and includes CDs, radios, puzzles, games, coloring supplies and much more. To learn more about how this initiative can support your loved one, ask their healthcare provider.

Cambridge Memorial Hospital and the Seniors Health team collaborates with many community partners

Ontario Health atHome
Intensive Geriatric Service Worker Program (IGSW)
Behavioral Supports Ontario (BSO):
Community Responsive Behavior Team (CRBT)
BSO Transitional Team to LTC
Frail Elder Home Based Primary Care Practice
Others (Community Services)

If you are being admitted to hospital, here is a short "To Do" list:

Patient Registration and Health Card: Enter at the Main Entrance (Wing A) and register at Patient Registration with your health card upon arrival.
Medications: Bring your medications, including over-the-counter medicine and supplements, to each appointment. Keeping an up-to-date list of your medications can be helpful.

A Patient Guide is provided upon admission to better prepare you or your loved on for your stay. Visit the Patient Information page to access the latest guide and more information. You can also review the "Welcome to Medicine" document to help with your stay.

Outpatient: If you are booked for a clinic appointment. Please bring any personal assistive devices that you require for your appointment. For example, any communication or mobility device you many need like a walker, hearing aid, etc.

Kindly note that CMH has a no scent policy. Please refrain from using or wearing perfumes, scented deodorants and scented products before coming to hospital.

We value your opinion. At anytime you wish to provide feedback, we encourage you to share it directly with your healthcare team in the moment or as soon as possible. You may also speak with the social worker, spiritual care advisor, the unit's charge nurse or the team's leadership (see below).

If you shared a concern that you feel has not been addressed, please connect with the Patient Experience Lead at patientrelations@cmh.org.

Andrea Brissette, Manager Medicine, Transitional Care Unit, Elder Life - ext. 3064

April McCulloch, Director Medical Programs - ext. 2402

Referral Process

Arrangements for outpatient and long-term care assessments are made by physician or nurse practitioner referral. Referrals are made through Waterloo Wellington Specialized Geriatric Services Central Intake using the WW SGS Referral Form or by contacting 1-855-849-6228 to speak to an Intake Coordinator.