The Emergency Departments are experiencing high volumes of patients who need care. Please be prepared to wait. The most serious cases are treated first.
Not all health concerns need emergency care. You can also book a virtual visit or go to an urgent care clinic for these concerns. For life-threatening symptoms, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital.
Thank you for your patience.
The Seniors’ Specialized Mental Health Program at Waterloo Regional Health Network (WRHN) helps people with serious memory or thinking challenges. Learn what to expect and get answers to your questions.
Bring the following items when your loved one is staying on the Seniors’ Specialized Mental Health Unit:
For safety, razors and hair or nail clippers will be stored in a locked cupboard on the unit. Other hygiene items will be stored in a bin locked in the cupboard in the patient’s room.
To create a safe space for all patients, WRHN has a scent-free policy. Please also do not bring the following types of items:
Please remove all jewelry, including rings and necklaces. The team will ask you to take home any items that are unsafe.
The Seniors’ Specialized Mental Health Unit is a safe place for people with serious memory or thinking challenges. It helps people who may act in ways that could be unsafe.
We work with patients and their substitute decision makers (SDMs) to plan treatment and set goals. A SDM is a person chosen to make health care decisions for someone who cannot make their own. They help make sure care matches the person’s wishes and needs.
We work to keep patients safe and give them the most independence and best quality of life possible. Our approach focuses on care that:
Our goals are to:
The team working with your loved one may include:
When you come to WRHN, your loved one’s nurse will greet them and help them settle in. You will work with team members to mark and sort your loved one’s personal belongings.
A pharmacist will review any medicines your loved one takes. The program’s doctors will prescribe any other medicine they need during their stay. Our pharmacy gives patients all their medicine while they stay at WRHN.
The team will talk about your loved one’s care with you during an admission meeting. We will talk about:
Our team uses the P.I.E.C.E.S.™ approach to plan care. This approach helps us understand symptoms that affect a person’s thinking or behavior so we can give them better care. We also make care plans for patients during their stay.
The healthcare team reviews the plan with a patient’s SDM if there are major changes in symptoms or abilities. When the patient is ready to leave WRHN, we share their care plan with their next place of care with help from the Seniors’ Transition Team (STT).
Patients in the Seniors’ Specialized Mental Health Program can take part in recreational therapy programs. We offer activities on and off the unit, including outdoor activities. They support patients’ quality of life and help them keep their abilities. Friends and family members are welcome to join. Current activities include:
We also offer one-on-one visits with a recreational therapist. Talk to your loved one’s care team if you would like to learn more.
Our team helps patients with personal care when needed to maintain good hygiene. All patients take a shower once a week. They are given bed baths on the other days.
Patients or SDMs are responsible for money, valuables, and personal items they bring to WRHN. As part of the admission process, we will ask you to sign a waiver indicating this responsibility. Radios, tablets, and headphones are allowed in patient rooms.
Meals and snacks are served in our dining area. Team members can offer help or supervision depending on what patients need. Meals take place at the following times:
Let the healthcare team know if your loved one has:
A registered dietitian will complete an assessment and find healthy meals that they enjoy.
WRHN @ Chicopee offers a laundry service. Laundry is done once a week for a monthly cost. Talk to the care team for more information including the cost.
Note: Our washers and dryers are very hot and may damage fabrics like wool, silk, or rayon. Polyester and cotton blends should be okay. Please consider this when choosing your loved one’s clothes.
There are televisions in common areas and lounges for patients and families to use. We also offer digital television services. You can bring a tablet to stream entertainment. Wi-Fi is available for free. We do not offer private television rentals.
When patients have free time, there are lots of activities to do, including:
WRHN @ Chicopee also has many supports, spaces, and services for patients and care partners.
Therapeutic leaves, or off-unit passes, are times when patients are allowed to leave the unit. A doctor called a geriatric psychiatrist can order a therapeutic leave for a patient after they weigh the risks and benefits. It is a part of how we offer supportive, patient-centred care.
Patients are often able to leave the unit with family or friends for periods of time. They may also leave the unit with team members to take part in recreation therapy.
Discharge planning helps patients get ready to leave the hospital. It makes sure they have the care, medicine, and support they need to stay safe and healthy after they leave.
Discharge planning starts when the patient arrives. Each member of the healthcare team takes part in the planning process. Patients or SDMs also play a role in discharge planning. They:
The team continues to review patients’ goals and progress throughout their stay. This helps make sure discharge planning continues.
Part of the process also includes deciding on a discharge destination. This is the place the patient will go after leaving the hospital. It could be their home, a rehab or long-term care home, or another hospital. The care team will help choose the best place based on the care and support the patient needs.
The team will contact you before your loved one’s discharge date. We will confirm the best and safest way to get them to their discharge destination. We may ask you to gather their personal belongings ahead of time. A team member can help you with this process if needed.
Patients who come to the unit from a long-term care facility can be away for care for up to 60 days. We aim to help patients become ready to return to long-term care within 60 days.
If a patient needs care for more than 60 days, the long-term care facility will discharge them. The patient then goes on the waiting list. They will be the highest priority if they apply to return to the long-term care facility.
The Seniors’ Transition Team (STT) includes a registered practical nurse, occupational therapist, and a social worker. They support patients and their discharge plan when a patient is ready to leave WRHN.
The team communicates treatment recommendations to community partners. They help make patients’ transitions as easy as possible by:
We work hard to keep all patients, family members, care partners, and team members safe. You can help by washing and sanitizing your hands often while at WRHN. WRHN @ Chicopee is also a tobacco and vape free facility.
We know that it can be stressful when a loved one needs hospital care. Visitors and care partners are expected to act safely and respectfully when visiting the unit. We do not tolerate disruptive or unsafe behavior. We will address any unacceptable behaviour quickly and directly to keep everyone safe.
Patients staying in the Seniors’ Specialized Mental Health Unit are welcome to have visitors. Suggested visiting hours are from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., but families and care partners can visit 24 hours a day.
Here is some important information about visiting the unit:
Parking is available outside of the specialized mental health entrance and the main entrance. We offer daily and monthly rates.
If you need more support to care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, visit the Alzheimer’s Society website. It offers information and can help you connect with other families and caregivers.
If you have concerns about your loved one’s treatment or care, we encourage you to meet with your team. You can discuss the issue with them and work towards a solution together. Here is how you can reach us:
519-749-4300, ext. 7077
and ask for a member of their team
519-749-4300, ext. 7165
519-749-4300, ext. 3606
If the issue is not resolved, you can call the Patient Experience Team at 519-749-4730.
