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Geriatric Inpatient Unit at St. Mary’s of the Lake
The Geriatric Inpatient Unit is a hospital program for seniors with multiple health problems who will benefit from a health care team approach to inpatient assessment/review, treatment and rehabilitation.
- What is its purpose?
- Who may benefit from the Inpatient Unit?
- Items to bring to the Inpatient Unit
- Treatment at the Inpatient Unit
- Preparing for discharge
- Contact information
- PDF brochure about the Geriatric Inpatient Unit
What is its purpose?
The purpose of the Geriatric Inpatient Unit is to help seniors become as independent as they can in their mobility and self-care after operation, illness, accident or gradual decline in health. This is so that the patient can return as safely as possible to their place of residence.
Length of stay is variable (2-6 weeks), depending on individual needs and rehabilitation progress.
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Who may benefit from the Inpatient Unit?
- Aged 65 years and older with complex health issues
- Recent decline in managing day-to-day activities
- Difficulty with getting aroundRecent falls or fear of falling
- Concerns about medications Recent changes in ability to cope
- Recent changes to social supports and/or caregiver stress
- Multiple admissions to hospital or visits to the emergency department or family physician
- Mood/memory/thinking changes as part of other health change
- Recent and unexplained changes in health status
Items to bring to the Inpatient Unit
- All medications from home (prescription, non-prescription, herbal, vitamins, all over-the-counter products)
- Hearing aids and replacement batteries, glasses, dentures
- Several changes of comfortable clothing – easy to put on and take off, including socks and underwear
- Good supportive shoes and slippers that fit (low heeled, non-slip soles only)
- Unscented toiletry items (Kleenex, comb/brush, toothbrush/paste, deodorant, lotions, shampoo, & electric razor) as these are not provided (some of these items can be purchased in our Gift Shop)
- Any personal equipment that was being used prior to admission (such as personal wheelchair, walker, cane, compression stockings, hip protectors, CPAP, incontinence supplies)
- Immunization record and health card
Make sure all items are labelled by name. DO NOT bring valuables or large sums of money.
REMINDER: Be advised that the hospital does not provide telephones or televisions in patient rooms. On arrival patients can ask about how to arrange for these and other services.
Treatment at the Inpatient Unit
Treatment involves a team approach in which a number of health care professionals work with patients to customize their care plan.
The care team usually includes nurses, physicians who specialize in geriatric medicine, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, speech-language pathologist, psychologist, registered dietitian, social worker, spiritual care worker, pharmacist, recreation therapist, discharge planner, and a case manager from Community Care Access Centre. We are also a teaching facility and may have health care students assisting in assessment and treatment.
Progress is achieved through daily participation in therapy. For most patients, this could involve a total of two to three hours per day of structured time with various clinicians, as mentioned above.
With patient permission, family members are encouraged to be actively involved in care planning and recovery. They are welcomed and encouraged to attend therapies, and to provide support in applying what the patient has learned.
Patients may have a family conference for the purpose of sharing information during the course of their stay.
Preparing for discharge
Weekend or day passes are part of the program whenever possible. Passes should be planned well in advance to ensure that care needs can be met. Patients and family members will be asked to complete a questionnaire to let us know how the weekend went.
Prior to planned discharge, the team will review patient progress and make recommendations. If discharge to home is not possible, alternate living arrangements will be discussed with patients and family members.
If you are eligible, community services may be arranged before discharge. These services may include in-home visits by a personal support worker, nurse, physiotherapist, occupational therapist or other professionals. Patients may also be eligible for outpatient therapy or the Day Hospital program.
Discharge will be determined by patient abilities, safety and independence.
Contact information
- Specialized Geriatrics, Geriatric Inpatient Unit - St. Mary’s of the Lake Hospital site, Providence Care
- 340 Union St., P.O. Box 3600, Kingston, Ontario, K7L 5A2
- Prior to Admission - Telephone: 613-544-7767, Toll free: 1-800-214-5848
- After Admission - Telephone: 613-548-7222 Ext. 2211 or 2212, Telephone after 9:00 p.m.: 613-544-5221