March 26, 2014 – Durham Region Non-Profit Housing Corporation, Pinewood Centre of Lakeridge Health Oshawa and Durham Mental Health Services (DMHS) and Pinewood Centre of Lakeridge Health are pleased to announce a new collaboration to deliver health services at home to Durham Non-Profit Housing tenants aged 55 and older.

A hub located in Wood Farm Manor, one of the Durham Region Non-Profit Housing Corporation’s apartment buildings, will be staffed by a joint DMHS/Pinewood Centre team of personal support workers and a recreational therapist, led by a Registered Nurse Coordinator.

This team will offer flexible, individualized support to residents through a combination of scheduled check-ins and “as needed” on-call support. During off hours, residents can access immediate telephone support through the DMHS C.A.L.L. Centre (Crisis Access Linkage Line).

The team will assess residents’ needs and link them to additional supports as needed, drawing on DMHS’ and Pinewood Centre’s extensive range of crisis, mental health and addiction services.

This healthcare collaboration promotes key priorities for our local health care system, as identified in the Central East Local Health Integration Network’s Community First Integrated Health Service Plan 2013-2016, including:

· Reducing the demand for long-term care so that seniors spend 320,000 more days at home in their communities by 2016; and,

· Strengthening the system of supports for people with Mental Health and Addictions issues so they spend 15,000 more days at home in their communities by 2016.

By providing services at home, preventing crises and connecting residents to needed community supports, this partnership will reduce unnecessary Emergency Department visits and hospitalizations and will reduce the length of hospital stays. Durham Region Non-Profit Housing tenants will receive the care they need to remain safely in their own homes.

“The Region’s population is aging and services for seniors are more critical than ever before,” says DMHS Executive Director Rob Adams. “This great partnership with Durham Non-Profit Housing Corporation and Pinewood Centre will ensure that seniors get the services they need to stay healthy at home. The program builds on a Recovery Model of Care from a Home First perspective.”

Bill Clapperton, Executive Director of Durham Non-Profit Housing Corporation, says “The goals of this project reflect the mission of Durham Region Non-Profit Housing by assisting with related services to support residents in their housing. This partnership will help keep people in their own homes, and that means the entire community of Whitby wins”.

This project is funded by the Central East Local Health Integration Network, who we thank for their generous support.

About Durham Mental Health Services:

Serving Durham Region for over 20 years, Durham Mental Health Services (DMHS) offers a range of programs to help individuals and families manage the impact of mental illness and work towards recovery. Services include immediate crisis support, longer-term supportive housing, case management, mental health court support and specialized services for families. DMHS works in partnership with local healthcare and human service providers to deliver accessible, coordinated, and person-centred care. For more information, visit their website at www.dmhs.ca.

For more information, please contact:

David Clarke
Coordinator, Training and Communications
Durham Mental Health Services
905-666-0831, ext. 3242
dclarke@dmhs.ca