A new Quinte Health program is helping seniors find access to services, so they can stay in their homes longer.
The Geriatric Emergency Management Program (GEM) has occupational therapist Stacy Jackson working out of North Hastings Hospital on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Jackson finds patients who’ve become frequent visitors to the hospital and explores what services they could access, with hopes that they’ll be less likely to require hospital service in the future.
Her work may allow them to become connected with Home & Community Care, the Community Paramedicine Program or Community Care North Hastings; all programs that provide support to seniors living at home.
“The GEM role is there to help people stay home safely, as long as they possibly can,” he says. “That’s our goal and we find that’s where people want to be. People do better at home, as long as they’re safe.”
The program started in the spring and has allowed Jackson to help dozens of patients already. She says it’s filling a void, as programs such as this have been common in urban areas for some time, but are only now becoming common in rural communities.
