Bruyère is Eastern Ontario's leading health care organization, specializing in aging, rehabilitation, and complex care. We are dedicated to maximizing the quality of life for our patients and their loved ones, many of whom are navigating the challenges of aging and managing multiple complex illnesses.
With nearly 2,000 annual admissions and 8,000 outpatient visits, we deliver for patients and their families by creating care plans that support their primary care goal of aging in place. Through specialized programs that support this including: outpatient rehabilitation and facilitating faster transitions, Bruyère enhances quality of life and alleviates health care system pressures, especially during peak times like the fall respiratory season.
Outpatient geriatric rehabilitation preventing hospital admissions
At 78, Mildred experienced a wake-up call during a trip to Mexico when she began falling. Though she wasn't seriously injured, the experience left her cautious and questioning her abilities, acutely aware of the risks falls pose for those over 65.
Bruyère's Geriatric Day Hospital welcomed her into an eight-week outpatient program where an interprofessional care team works to build strength and confidence tailored to each individual's health needs and living context. This targeted prevention program is a critical relief valve for a system under intense pressure.
While it's hard to quantify what doesn't happen, 360 older adults accessed the Day Hospital last year, receiving the care needed to retain and regain function. This proactive approach prevents life-altering events that could lead to hospitalization or long-term care. For the system, this means an available bed, but more importantly, it means a restored quality of life and the ability to age in place.
Facilitating safer and faster discharges with Bruyère@Home
Going home from a hospital stay can be complicated and delayed by not having access to the right mix of in-community care services while recovering from or navigating complex illness. The results can be longer hospital stays, a less safe return home, more people waiting in acute care for rehabilitation and complex care beds, or re-hospitalization, ramping up pressures on the system with often devastating consequences for those we care for.
Bruyère is turning the pressure down with the Bruyère@home program. In partnership with Carefor Health & Community Services, we bridge the gap between hospital and home, enabling older adults to transition home safer and faster with access to eight- or 16-week care support bundles.
The impact is undeniable: the program has reduced hospital readmissions and shortened the number of days patients stay in our hospital receiving an alternate level of care (ALC). According to Health Quality Ontario, 13 per cent of Ontario patients receiving home care were readmitted within 30 days of leaving the hospital, while only 5.7 per cent of Bruyère@Home patients were readmitted. The program has also significantly cut down ALC days, saving an average of 2.2 days per case. For the over 400 people who have benefited from this program, this translates to over $400,000 in savings.
This program delivers exactly what people want: a safer, faster return home with personalized services that evolve as they regain function and confidence. It's also precisely what the system needs, ensuring patients receive the most appropriate level of care in the community.
Bruyère, by prioritizing quality of life and enabling aging in place, we not only enhance outcomes and quality of life for those we care for but also alleviate pressures on our healthcare system. Our approach is clear: deliver targeted, effective care that meets the needs and wants of our patients, and we can strategically manage system demands.