We have updated our Birchmount Hospital phone lines. When you call through the main line (416-495-2400), you will need to add “7” when dialing an extension.

Geriatric Mental Health Outreach

The Geriatric Mental Health Outreach program at SHN conducts assessments and provides reports with recommendations for nursing home staff to help them manage patients who are presenting with concerning behaviours, including agitation, aggression, depression, resistance to care, psychotic symptoms or other indications of mental illness. The service is available to address the needs of patients and staff in the early stages of managing difficult behaviour in an attempt to avoid hospitalization.

The program is associated with Psychogeriatric Resource Consultation Program (PRCP). The team members, which include two registered nurses, occupational therapist and psychiatry, visit nursing homes on a regular basis.

Referrals are accepted from the following Central Scarborough Nursing Homes:

  • Bendale Acres
  • Hellenic Home for the Aged – Scarborough
  • Kennedy Lodge Nursing Home
  • Leisureworld Senior Care Corporation – Scarborough
  • Mong Sheong Scarborough Long-Term Care
  • Rockcliffe Nursing Home
  • Shepherd Lodge
  • Tendercare Nursing Home Ltd.
  • The Wexford Residence
  • Scarborough McNicoll – Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care
  • Houses of Providence
  • Chester Village
  • Ehatare
  • Fieldstone Commons
  • Seven Oaks
  • Tony Stacey
  • Yee Hong – Finch
  • Rouge Valley Extendicare
  • Scarborough Extendicare
  • Craiglee

Staff receive referrals from a designated person, usually a social worker, who acts as the liaison for the facility/nursing home. The designated person provides regular updates about the patient’s status. Referrals must be sent with consent from the patient’s Power of Attorney and an order from the resident physician.

Geriatric Outreach staff can also help to arrange a pre-planned admission to SHN’s psychiatric unit, if needed and if beds are available, to avoid unnecessary visits to the emergency department.