History of Specialized Geriatric Services
(SGSs) in our region
We
are one of five (5) Regional Geriatric Programs (RGPs) in the province.
However, SGSs in our region differs from the other RGPs in that
it is a consortium of specialized institutionally and community
based services for the elderly incorporating;
- Geriatric Medicine
- Geriatric Psychiatry and
- Chronic Care Programs
How did SGSs develop in our region?
In the mid 1980’s the provincial government developed
a strategic plan for a comprehensive system of health services for
the elderly (A New AGEnda). Part of the plan was to use the expertise
developed by the academic health sciences centres to help improve
the quality of geriatric services provided by Ontario’s acute
and chronic hospitals.
In its guidelines, the Ministry of Health has defined a regional
geriatric program as:
“a comprehensive, coordinated system of health services
for the elderly within a region” with the objective of:
“assisting the elderly to live independently in their own
communities thereby preventing unnecessary and inappropriate institutionalization.”
In 1995 the Regional Geriatric Program of Central South and West
integrated Geriatric
Psychiatry and Chronic Care services into the existing Geriatric
Medicine framework.
Where are SGSs located?
We coordinate specialized health care for the elderly throughout
Central South and West regions in Ontario. Major partners in this
program typically are:
- Acute Care
- Community Care
- Community Care Access Centre
- Primary Care
What is the role of SGSs?
SGSs have a complex and dynamic role in the community that continues
to evolve as community needs and the structure of health services
change over time. The diverse roles of SGSs fall into 4 major categories:
1. Service
Specialized Geriatric Health Services are provided by all the
regional geriatric program member organizations. Specialized services
include: In-patient units in geriatric assessment, geriatric rehabilitation
and geriatric psychiatry; geriatric consultation teams for acute
medical and psychiatric units; complex continuing care for geriatric
patients; outpatient clinics in geriatric medicine and geriatric
psychiatry; geriatric day hospitals; and, geriatric outreach teams.
2. Education
A focus of the various component members of SGSs has been and
continues to be the ongoing education of health care providers.
The aim is to improve the capacity of the system to deal with
complex care issues and to improve its ability to provide preventive
strategies for seniors. This strategy optimizes the use of existing
resources and reserves specialist services for seniors who have
complex and multiple problems.
Educating seniors with complex or multiple needs and their families
or caregivers is another priority for SGSs. This education can
occur in hospitals, clinics, day hospitals, patients’ homes
or in the broader community. Promoting seniors’ health and
providing information about effective disease management strategies
are primary goals.
3. Research
Sis’s and its component members support, undertake and,
when possible, fund research initiatives to learn more about the
health needs of older adults and best practice strategies to meet
those needs. As part of the research community, SGSs has developed
strong links to the Faculty of Health Sciences and the Interdisciplinary
Health and Aging Program at McMaster University.
4. Health Promotion
Implementing health promotion initiatives is an important direction
for SGSs. As always, we maintain a focus on seniors with complex
needs and their caregivers. Building partnerships with community
groups is an essential component and ongoing priority for SGSs.
We are currently working to establish closer ties with community
service providers, advocacy groups and seniors’ groups as
a strategy to establish a system which can best meet community
needs.
