The Leeds & Grenville Community Family Health Team Launches New “Aging at Home” Program

The Leeds & Grenville Community Family Health Team (LGCFHT) is pleased to announce the launch of its new “Aging at Home” program, a home-based care service for rostered LGCFHT patients in Brockville and Gananoque who require alternative care delivery.

The focus of the program is to assist patients who may have difficulty accessing the clinics or are at high risk for hospitalization, says Nancy Campbell, the Nurse Practitioner leading the program.

“Aging at Home seeks to link individuals with resources, education and provide care in their home,” says Campbell.

The program includes:

• Home visits

• Physical assessment

• Medication review and management

• Chronic disease management

• Episodic illness care (exacerbation of chronic disease)

• Prevention of accessing acute care facilities

The program is available to LGCFHT patients who:

• Are over 65 years of age (under 65 may be seen at home if conditions warrant it)

• Have a chronic disease such as congestive heart failure or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

• Have difficulty walking to and from appointments

• Experience memory loss

• Visit the hospital emergency department frequently

• Have been recently hospitalized for chronic disease

Jenny Lane, LGCFHT Executive Director, says that the organization’s vision of Delivery of Optimal Care to Those We Serve was front and centre when designing this program.

“The team and I recognized that with our elderly patients suffering from a number of chronic conditions, a home visiting program would be of benefit to many people,” she says. “We continue to be focused on patient need and optimal modes of care delivery.”

Lane says that Campbell and LGCFHT Program Manager Linda Bisonette have been instrumental in bringing the program to fruition.

“Aging at home is a goal for many of our patients and through this initiative, we aim to assist them in meeting this goal,” says Bisonette.

To be referred to the program, patients can either call their local clinic or be referred by their physician, nurse practitioner, clinic nurse, outside nursing agency, Community Care Access Centre or a family member.

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Media Contact:

Jenny Lane, MSc, NP-PHC Executive Director Leeds & Grenville Community Family Health Team 613-342-4076 ext. 2007 jlane@lgcfht.ca