“We saw distressed families, patients waiting far too long, and a fragmented system. It became a burning platform to do something different.” Beatrise Edelstein, Vice President of Post Acute Care and Health System Partnerships

“The inspiration came from a lack of appropriate resources in acute care to support patients with behavioural needs,” says , Vice President of Post Acute Care and Health System Partnerships. “We saw distressed families, patients waiting far too long, and a fragmented system. It became a burning platform to do something different.”

The ABAMU, which will be located at Humber’s Finch campus, will serve as a regional resource for seniors requiring both acute medical care and behavioral support. Designed to minimize environmental triggers, it will feature 12 private rooms, a communal dining space, and specialty bathrooms—all tailored for safety, comfort, and dignity.

“Hospitals are complex and chaotic environments designed in a way that increases the risk of behaviors—the noise, the lights, the constant staff changes,” says , Executive Vice President, Chief Nurse Executive, Chief of Clinical Programs. “We wanted to create a therapeutic environment where we can still deliver acute care without compromising the overall patient’s well-being.”

“We wanted to create a therapeutic environment where we can still deliver acute care without compromising the overall patient’s well-being.” Carol Hatcher, Executive Vice President, Chief Nurse Executive, Chief of Clinical Programs.

The need is urgent. Seniors account for over 73% of Humber’s inpatient population, with many experiencing cognitive decline.

What will set the ABAMU apart isn’t just its environment—it’s the people. Staff will receive enhanced training in geriatric and behavioural care, building a team deeply passionate about serving this population. “This isn’t just extra orientation,” Beatrise explains. “These are individuals who want to work with patients with dementia and are trained in the nuances of care for this group.”

The ABAMU model is also expected to improve patient outcomes and reduce costs. “When we change the environment and deliver the right care, in the right place, the patient’s overall health outcomes can be optimized quicker, therefore length of stay should be shorter,” says Carol. “And it will be a less expensive model for delivering better care then in a traditional hospital bed.”

Outside of patients, the ABAMU is also being designed to support caregivers. “We see caregiver burden, guilt, and burnout,” says Beatrise. “This unit will help families navigate the journey with dignity and support, not just for their loved one, but for themselves.”

This vision cannot become a reality without community support. “We can’t do this without donors,” says Carol. “This is a capital build—innovative care like this requires investment.” At Humber, we believe that healthcare thrives when it’s equitable, accessible, and compassionate. The ABAMU is a step toward that future—where dignity in aging is not a privilege, but an expectation.

Acute Behavioural Assessment & Management Unit

The ABAMU will redefine care for seniors with complex cognitive impairments and expressive behaviours—but we can’t build it without you. Donate today to help create a sanctuary of healing, dignity, and hope for our most vulnerable. For more information, please contact Caterina Magisano (cmagisano@hrh.ca)

The post A New Era in Seniors’ Care: The Vision Behind Humber’s Acute Behavioural Assessment & Management Unit appeared first on Hennick Humber Hospital Foundation.

On March 8th, the eve of International Women’s Day, the women of WINK gathered for our 2023 WINK Den to hear pitches from two amazing new programs at Humber River Hospital: the expansion of our Acessa ProVu program, a minimally invasive approach to treating uterine fibroids, and a new Hospice @ Home project, an initiative supporting patients who prefer end of life care at home.

After hearing each pitch, WINK members had the opportunity to meet and mingle with representatives from each program, including physicians, program staff, and grateful patients to learn more about each cause.

After a difficult deliberation, the WINK members cast their votes for which program would receive their combined gift of $65,000 – ultimately choosing Hospice @ Home!

Members were given the opportunity to mingle with each program and ask questions.

The group was also joined by keynote speaker Diane Clemons for an inspiring conversation about women in philanthropy, where Diane spoke of the inspiring women in her own life who have shaped her values. Diane and her husband, Michael, co-founded the Pinball Clemons Foundation and have raised over $15 million for marginalized youth.

Hospice @ Home

“Working with the older adult population, we see the challenges that arise during end of life care,” says Victoria Zefkic, the SCOPE and LTC+ Nurse Navigator at Humber River Hospital. “A time that should be spent surrounded by family and loved ones ensuring peace and comfort is often disrupted in a busy, stressful hospital environment. Hospice @ Home will provide a holistic approach to palliative care, right in the patient’s home.”

75% percent of patients have expressed that they would prefer to die at home, yet only 15% are able to do so due to limited hospice beds in our geography and limited supports provided through home care.

Keynote Diane Clemons (centre) spoke about the power of women in philanthropy.

Humber River Hospital will be collaborating with North West Toronto Ontario Health Team partner SE Health to pilot the innovative Hospice @ Home program. Hospice @ Home will serve palliative care patients with a specialized and dedicated 24/7 interdisciplinary team, consisting of: registered nurses, personal support workers, social workers, spiritual care, and other complementary therapists, going beyond what is provided through home care services.

“We will be using our funding from WINK to help cover costs associated with launching this pilot, transition support, nursing, complementary therapies, PSW services, medical equipment and supplies and volunteer expenses,” says Kathleen Kirk, Clinical Practice Leader on the Acute Care of the Elderly unit at Humber. “No price can be attached to the act of allowing a loved one to pass away in the comfort of their own home!”

The winning program Hospice @ Home will be using WINK funds to help launch their pilot.

Thank you to TD Bank Group for being an incredible sponsor for Women in Kindness!

The post New Hospice @ Home Program Wins $65K in the 2023 WINK Den appeared first on Hennick Humber Hospital Foundation.

My name is Jillian Scandiffio and I am the Research Assistant for Humber’s Elderly Assess and Restore Team (HEART).

I joined the team in November 2020 after finishing my Master’s at Queen’s University, where I researched the role of physical activity and sedentary behaviour in adolescence and their associations with the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in adulthood. I also worked on a health quality project that studied the barriers in education for students with disabilities.

How would you explain your job to a friend?

“Sometimes when seniors end up in a hospital, they are at risk of functional decline,” says Jillian. “HEART is trying to prevent that.”

We’re studying the role the HEART program plays in helping seniors return home safely from the Hospital, by analyzing health records and also by interviewing participants in the program.

What is HEART and why is it important?

Sometimes when seniors end up in a hospital, they are at risk of functional decline. HEART is trying to prevent that. Our HEART team includes physiotherapists, occupational therapists, rehabilitation assistants and a registered practical nurse. They provide daily treatment for our HEART patients so that they can go home with an improved level of function, and so that we can prevent them from needing to come back.

The HEART team also follows up with patients and makes sure they have everything they need to stay home safely after they leave the Hospital.

There is currently no literature on this, so researching HEART will help us determine whether we should expand the program further at Humber, and whether this is something other hospitals should be doing too!

“Our HEART team includes physiotherapists, occupational therapists, rehabilitation assistants and a registered practical nurse,” says Jillian. “They provide daily treatment for our HEART patients so that they can go home with an improved level of function.”

Is there anything you can share about how the research on HEART is going?

It’s early for results, but we have reached some pretty big milestones! We have established the questions we are trying to answer, what we are measuring, and the exact ways that we will do our research. We also submitted everything to the Research Ethics Board and it has already been approved, which is fantastic.

We have also begun the first part of our study, which is to review data from the charts of all patients who were eligible for HEART from September 2018 to March 2020. This allows us to study everyone who took part in the program and compare them directly to similar patients who were eligible but didn’t take part, studying the difference in their outcomes.

Our research will also include in-person interviews with participants, which are currently on-pause with COVID – but that hasn’t slowed us down, since we are focussing on the data first.

What do you love about your job?

“I’m inspired by the possibility that our research could have real-world implications for clinical practice and policy that would help a lot of people,” says Jillian.

The work I’m doing at Humber is similar to my work at Queen’s where I was able to work with a large data set of thousands of people. Large data sets have the possibility of really making a difference, and I love that kind of work.

With HEART, we might be producing something with truly meaningful results. This could change how things are done, not just at Humber, but at other hospitals too. The results aren’t just for us, they’re for the broader scientific community.

What inspires you?

I’m inspired by the possibility that our research could have real-world implications for clinical practice and policy that would help a lot of people.

I’m also very lucky to be working with Beatrise Edelstein, the Program Director of Seniors Care. She has so much knowledge and passion and that rubs off on all of us around her!

The post Interview: Jillian Scandiffio, Research Assistant, Humber’s Elderly Assess and Restore Team (HEART) appeared first on Hennick Humber Hospital Foundation.

I’m Dr. Judith Seary and I’m newest Geriatrician at Humber River Hospital. I started this past October.

“Humber recognizes that there are aspects of seniors care that are unique and that this is an opportunity to provide more tailored care,” says Dr. Judith Seary. “There is also a recognition that this can be an opportunity to innovate.”

In one sentence, how would you explain your job to a friend?

I help older adults live well.

What makes you proud of how seniors are cared for at Humber?

Humber recognizes that there are aspects of seniors care that are unique and that this is an opportunity to provide more tailored care. There is also a recognition that this can be an opportunity to innovate. For example, the HEART Program (Humber’s Elderly Assess and Restore Team) brings early mobilization to the patients who need it, regardless of whether they are admitted to the Hospital. In the last year, we have established shared care, between orthopaedic surgery and geriatric medicine, for older adults with hip fractures. And, we have implemented early delirium detection.

What are the three most interesting pieces of technology at Humber? 

, through monitoring multiple indicators, has the potential to detect patients at-risk for functional decline and delirium. Identifying these patients early is important for achieving the best long-term outcomes for each individual. It also positions Humber to better develop and assess models of care.

“The Command Centre, through monitoring multiple indicators, has the potential to detect patients at-risk for functional decline and delirium,” says Dr. Seary.

We have access to interpretation services through multiple technologies including mobile video units, which is important for providing care in a patient’s first language.

What is one awesome thing you’ve done in the last year?

I saw Sir Elton John perform when he came to Toronto. He’s 72 and keeps doing what he’s passionate about! His show was definitely awesome.

What inspires you?

Stories. Geriatrics is a very privileged specialty because we have the time to get to know our patients as individuals with unique stories and fascinating lives.

The post Interview: Dr. Judith Seary, Geriatrician appeared first on Hennick Humber Hospital Foundation.

We would like to introduce you to 6 people (of many!) at Humber who are making a difference in Seniors Care:

Kris Anne Simpson, Resource Person

“My mother worked in a nursing home, so I grew up around seniors. On 12 East at Humber we only see senior patients, and I really like working with this population. As the Resource Person, I am essentially a full-time Charge Nurse who helps to connect nurses, physicians, social workers, and other interdisciplinary staff to coordinate patient care. I like that I’m in a position to advocate for the patients on our floor and make a connection with them. If they have trouble navigating the healthcare system, I help to fill in the gaps.”

Denise Scott, Physiotherapist

“I have worked at Humber River Hospital for 15 years – it is my community Hospital and I have been proud to be part of something that is always growing and improving. Recently I’ve helped create and implement the HEART Program: the Humber’s Elderly Assess and Restore Team. This team screens senior patients when they are admitted so that we can identify those at risk of losing function while they are here. These patients are eligible for daily therapy for restoring mobility.”

Alin Khodaverdian, Occupational Therapy Professional Practice Leader

“Part of our work as Occupational Therapists is to promote the independence of our patients so that they can transition back into their communities safely. As the Professional Practice Leader, I make sure that all of our Humber Occupational Therapists are up to date with best practices. OTs are really well positioned to work with seniors because we can help them address the physical, functional, or cognitive barriers that make it challenging to go home right away. Our ultimate outcome is that our patients can return to their lives, and if they aren’t able to go home we make recommendations with an emphasis on maintaining as much independence as possible.”

Dr. Calvin Cheng, Geriatrician

“I think that there are two important elements to providing quality seniors’ care: The first is that we are able to provide great care for seniors when they are in our Hospital. The second is having programs focused on helping seniors transition back into their communities and preventing seniors from ending up back in our ER. Our new Humber’s Elderly Assess and Restore Team (HEART) is helping to ensure seniors maintain or even improve their levels of independence while they’re here. We have a great falls prevention program. And we have nurses who can follow seniors back into their community to make sure they have the resources they need.”

(Read Dr. Cheng’s full interview here)

Alvin Chio, Physiotherapist at RCC Finch

“At the Reactivation Care Centres we have physiotherapists present seven days a week, so our patients can work with a physiotherapist almost every other day. Our goal is to help them increase their mobility and help them regain as much independence as possible before they transition home, into long term care, rehab or convalescence. If they are bed-bound, our goal might be to get them to sit at the edge of their bed. If they can sit, we work towards helping them stand. It is rewarding to see people improve and regain independence.”

An Nguyen, Nurse Practitioner at RCC Church

“The RCCs are a very good environment for patients who don’t require acute care services and who are waiting to go to their long term care or alternate facilities. We provide more physical activity to help patients improve their independence and offer recreation therapy every day to maintain their cognition. The RCC works well because we have a great team that works together towards a common goal to promote quality of life for our elderly patients.”

The post 6 People Making a Difference in Seniors Care at Humber River Hospital appeared first on Hennick Humber Hospital Foundation.

Humber’s Elderly Assess and Restore Team (HEART) identifies senior patients at-risk for functional decline and works with them to maintain or even improve their levels of independence while they are at Humber River Hospital.

The Paul B. Helliwell Foundation has generously stepped in to match all donations supporting a research study on HEART. Between now and December 31st, 2019 when you , the Paul B. Helliwell Foundation will make an additional donation at 3x your gift amount to Humber River Hospital Foundation – that’s 4x the impact of your gift!

HEART is working: 100% of HEART patients have been released with at least the same level of function as they had when they were admitted, and 34% of these patients were discharged with better functional skills! Since the program launched in September 2018, monitoring has shown that HEART is optimizing patient function, reducing length of stay by an average of five days, and facilitating home discharges.

But we need your help: We need to conduct more research to evaluate the full impact of HEART, to study the difference between patients who had access to HEART and those that did not. To date, only 12% of eligible patients have been able to access the HEART service, and yet the HEART program is allowing senior patients to go home up to five days earlier with less likelihood of having to return to the Hospital.

“I know first-hand how hard it is to have senior family members in hospital,” says Dr. Julie Gilbert, Research Director & Chair at Humber River Hospital. “HEART might be the difference between someone returning home and someone needing long-term care. We have every reason to believe that HEART works. Rigorous research is going to give us evidence, and enable the program to grow so that it can make a difference for more people.”

We need additional clinical resources for the HEART Program to be available to more senior patients. Help us fund HEART research so we can build the business case for growing the HEART. Your donation can improve the lives of more frail seniors, maintain their ability to live at home, and help them go home sooner.

“We need to respond to an aging population. Please join us.” says John Jenah, President of the Paul B. Helliwell Foundation. “We’re very excited that funding this research will catalyze change in seniors care.”

Your donation will help frail elderly patients transition home. Donate today to multiply the impact of your gift!

The Paul B. Helliwell Foundation has a history of supporting innovating, leading-edge technology and programs at hospitals including Humber River Hospital. We are excited that this investment will provide a catalyst to launch research in seniors care.

The post Seniors Care Gift Match! Triple Your Gift and Increase Your Impact before December 31st appeared first on Hennick Humber Hospital Foundation.

Meet Gracious, a nurse on Humber’s Geriatric Emergency Management team. GEM nurses work as consultants and advocates on behalf of the senior patients who come in through the ER.

Needing to go to the Hospital can be stressful for senior patients and their families.

Meet Gracious, a nurse on Humber’s Geriatric Emergency Management (GEM) team. Geriatric Emergency Management uses evidence-based models to provide the best care for senior patients. Every year, nurses like Gracious attend conferences to stay on top of the current research.

GEM nurses work as consultants and advocates on behalf of the senior patients who come in through the ER. They also help doctors assess if and when these patients can go home safely, and connect them to community resources (such as homecare and respite care) and to provide appropriate specialist updates and referrals.

“Working with seniors, you go slowly, you take your time, you walk them through what’s happening and make sure they understand,” says Gracious. “I see patients over 75 and I work with them and their families to help them navigate the Hospital, and also help with support and resources for when they are discharged and back at home.”

You can help provide extra love and care to patients and families in the Apotex Emergency Department and across the Hospital right now and over the holiday season by .

Here are some of the items that Gracious and her team need to ensure senior patients receive quality care this winter:

Interpreter on Wheels $1,600
Humber is proud to be one of the most diverse hospitals in Canada, serving all cultural and ethnic groups. We can provide interpretation for over 175 languages, including sign language. This device is a tablet (like an iPad) on wheels that can be brought anywhere in the Hospital where interpretation is needed.

Walkers (wheels and ski) $200
You’re probably already familiar with walkers with wheels, and the walker with skis is terrific for seniors with joint issues—and it helps prevent falls too.

Pocket Talkers $170
Pocket talkers allow patients and staff to amplify their voices to make it easier to communicate.

Montessori Dementia Kit $30
This is an engaging and fun kit containing games, crafts and activities that help stimulate activity and interaction.

Grip Socks $15 per pair
These comfortable and cozy slippers keep our seniors warm, but they also have rubber soles to help prevents slips and falls.

“It’s our job and responsibility to listen to our patients and their families, and take time to understand what can be complex and overlapping issues or conditions,” says Gracious. “By doing so, we can decide on the best plan of care together. Most important of all, we work to see them for who they are, not just see them for their age.”

The post This Winter Seniors in Our Community Need Your Help appeared first on Hennick Humber Hospital Foundation.

For these seniors, functional decline can mean a loss of independence, a reduction in quality of life and even readmission to hospital. With seniors making up 73% of the Humber River Hospital’s patient population, this is a significant concern for the Hospital and our community, especially with an aging population.

“Through HEART we screen senior patients when they are admitted so that we can identify those at risk of losing function while they are here,” says Denise Scott, a physiotherapist who helped create and implement the program. “These patients are eligible for daily therapy for restoring mobility.”

In September 2018, the Hospital launched Humber’s Elderly Assess and Restore Team (HEART) to help frail, at risk seniors transition successfully from hospital care back to their daily lives. Our goal is to help ensure that these seniors leave Humber with the same—or improved—functional skills.

We are proud to report that the HEART program is working!

Currently, 100% of HEART patients are released with at least the same level of function as they had at when they were admitted. In fact, 34% of these patients went home with better functional skills!

HEART is comprised of a physiotherapist, an occupational therapist, two rehabilitation assistants and a registered practical nurse. Together, these professionals work to minimize functional decline so that upon discharge, seniors are as close to their own “baselines” as possible. In essence, this means that they are able to complete the vital daily tasks—like showering and preparing meals— that they were able to manage at the time they were admitted to Humber.

Through HEART, all patients over the age of 65 are screened within 24 hours of admission to the Hospital by one of the HEART program’s physiotherapists or occupational therapists who ask the patients a series of questions about what their lifestyles were like before they came to the hospital.

Currently, 100% of HEART patients are released with at least the same level of function as they had at when they were admitted. In fact, 34% of these patients went home with better functional skills!

“This team screens senior patients when they are admitted so that we can identify those at risk of losing function while they are here,” says Denise Scott, a physiotherapist who helped create and implement the program. “These patients are eligible for daily therapy for restoring mobility. In the coming months, we will be able to monitor their progress on the Seniors Care tile in the .”

At-risk patients receive ongoing reassessments and therapies. HEART professionals work in collaboration with inpatient teams in the delivery of additional treatment over the course of seven days. Patients and their families receive teaching, information and referrals to ensure a successful discharge, and are followed up with after they return to their daily activities.

“Helping seniors transition back into their communities and preventing them from ending up back in our ER is an important part of providing quality seniors care,” says Geriatrician Dr. Calvin Cheng. “Humber’s Elderly Assess and Restore Team is helping to ensure seniors maintain or even improve their levels of independence while they’re here.”

The post The HEART of Seniors Care: Humber’s Elderly Assess and Restore Team appeared first on Hennick Humber Hospital Foundation.

I’m Dr. Calvin Cheng, and I have been a Geriatrician at Humber River Hospital for almost 15 years.

In one sentence, how would you explain what a Geriatrician does?

“Before the new Humber River Hospital opened, I was invited to be part of the committees that ensured the Hospital was built with seniors care in mind,” says Dr. Cheng. “There are so many ways that Humber is positioned to be a leader in seniors care.”

Geriatricians are doctors who specialize in diseases associated with aging.

What makes you proud of how seniors are cared for at Humber?

I think that there are two important elements to providing quality seniors’ care:

The first is that we are able to provide great care for seniors when they are in our Hospital. Before the new Humber River Hospital opened, I was invited to be part of the committees that ensured the Hospital was built with seniors care in mind. Our exam rooms have space for a family member to accompany our senior patients, and our Acute Care for the Elderly (ACE) unit is dedicated to treating seniors needing acute care in our Hospital. Our elderly patients are more likely to experience delirium in a hospital setting, which can extend their stays here, so we are developing programs like our Delirium Stewardship so that we can prevent or quickly respond to delirium when it’s detected.

The second is having programs focused on helping seniors transition back into their communities and preventing seniors from ending up back in our ER. Our new Humber’s Elderly Assess and Restore Team (HEART) is helping to ensure seniors maintain or even improve their levels of independence while they’re here. We have a great falls prevention program. And we have nurses who can follow seniors back into their community to make sure they have the resources they need.

What is the most interesting way technology is being used at Humber?

“Our new Humber Elder Assess and Restore Team (HEART) is helping to ensure seniors maintain or even improve their levels of independence while they’re here,” says Dr. Cheng. “In this next phase of the Command Centre, there will be a specific tile for monitoring senior patients who are at risk of losing functionality during their stay”

The , our hospital’s “mission control”, has so much potential when it comes to seniors care. In this next phase of the Command Centre, there will be a specific tile for monitoring senior patients who are at risk of losing functionality during their stay, as part of the HEART Program. We’re also looking towards using wearable technologies so that we can monitor patients at home for things like falls and dehydration, and respond to issues before they become emergencies.

We are also starting to offer more internet consultations, so that patients can speak to a Geriatrician remotely. Right now we do about two or three a month, but it’s an area we are growing into.

What is something awesome you have done in the last year?

We just hired a fifth Geriatrician who will be starting this fall. I’m really excited about how having five Geriatricians will allow our roles to evolve. It’s a great opportunity to start thinking outside the box.

What inspires you?

I have been thinking more about my legacy – What did I do with my life? – And I think there are so many ways that Humber is positioned to be a leader in developing better models for seniors care. There is so much that can be done at this Hospital and we have the opportunity to strike while the iron is hot.

Are you a grateful patient of Dr. Cheng’s? If you need a way to express exactly how thankful you are, consider showing your appreciation with a Gift of Gratitude. Dr. Cheng will be recognized with a special pin and personalized card from you, and your donation will help future patients at Humber River Hospital receive great care.

The post Interview: Dr. Calvin Cheng, Geriatrician appeared first on Hennick Humber Hospital Foundation.

Ola told us, “There are many barriers to assessing our elderly patients. They’re very vulnerable. They’re not the most agile or vocal, they can be confused or hard of hearing, and they often rely on family members to communicate. It’s so important to have people who are passionate and patient to work effectively with seniors. We are here to advocate for them in a way that preserves their dignity.”

Gracious added, “These patients have contributed so much in their lifetime, and this is our chance to give back!”

The post Humber River Hospital’s Geriatric Emergency Management Nurses appeared first on Hennick Humber Hospital Foundation.