How the WTOHT is Helping Seniors Receive Care in West Toronto

There’s no surprise – Canada’s senior population (65 years and older) is growing at a record rate. Data provided by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) shows that the country’s senior population is expected to more than double over the next 20 years. That means, by 2041, one in four Canadian will be a senior. We need to be ready to ensure that these seniors receive the care and support services they need.

 

The Ontario government is already getting ahead of the trend. Their strategy for elder care focuses on improving access to high-quality care and support services to ensure they receive care at home or in the community. Likewise, many Ontario Health Teams (OHTs), like the West Toronto OHT (WTOHT) is focusing on seniors as a priority population ensuring home and community services are easily available.

 

The WTOHT’s main goal is to provide and coordinate a comprehensive set of care and support services that are accessible, equitable and responsive to the needs of seniors. As such, in collaboration with health service and social providers as well as patients, clients, caregivers and families, and primary care, the WTOHT has set up a working group that’s already laying the groundwork to enhance the care experience and wellbeing of seniors living in Toronto’s west end.

 

Laying the groundwork:

 

In January 2023, following months of research, the Seniors Working Group launched their test of change in Toronto’s Mimico neighbourhood with the goals of:

  • collaborating with local health service and social providers to ensure capacity to support seniors,

  • providing a consistent way for primary care providers to refer seniors into these services; and

  • ensuring all seniors are able to receive health, community, and social services that they need based on a number of services developed.

 

The working group analyzed several high-priority neighbourhoods in West Toronto. Mimico was chosen as a pilot neighbourhood for the test of change based on 37.9% of seniors living alone and 15.9% in low-income settings based on data from 2016. Mimico is also home for 14.8% of seniors. Although still early on, the working group has made breakthroughs in establishing a seamless referral program for seniors.

 

As of March, four community health organizations have signed up to offer their availability and services, while eight local Physicians have also signed on to connect elderly patients to these services. So far, referrals are frequently being made with seniors already receiving care.

 

Currently, the working group ensures both OHIP-funded and non-OHIP funded services are readily available such as:

 

OHIP Funded

  • personal support services

  • primary care services

  • nutrition program, wellness, and mindfulness

  • respite services

  • adult day program

  • palliative services and

  • health and wellness

 

Non-OHIP Funded

  • transportation

  • meals on wheels

  • congregate programs

 

While evaluation is on-going, the plan is to take the learnings from Mimico and scale the test of change to other West Toronto neighbourhoods. In preparation to expand senior care in the area, the Seniors Working Group along with the WTOHT’s Digital Working Group and seven other OHTs across Toronto, are developing a phone line and an online service directory for seniors’ services in West Toronto. The goal is to simplify the navigation process for seniors looking for the services they need.

Learn more at https://www.wtoht.ca/frail-seniors.

WTOHT