WoodGreen and Michael Garron Hospital partner with federal government to provide supportive seniors’ care units in East Toronto
By MATTHEW STEPHENS
WoodGreen Community Services and Michael Garron Hospital (MGH) have partnered with the federal government to provide a nine-unit Cluster Care site for seniors in Leslieville.
“WoodGreen Community Services, in partnership with Michael Garron Hospital and with the unwavering support of the Government of Canada and the City of Toronto, is proud to welcome seniors to 1080 Queen Street East, our seventh Cluster Care site,” said Anne Babcock, President and CEO of WoodGreen Community Service in a recent press release.
On Monday, Feb. 24, Mayor Olivia Chow joined Toronto-Danforth Councillor Paula Fletcher, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Nathaniel Erskine-Smith (who is also the MP for Beaches-East York), Toronto-Danforth MP Julie Dabrusin, Board Chair of WoodGreen Community Services Nupi Zubair, and President/CEO of Michael Garron Hospital Melanie Kohn, to unveil the new units at the senior care site located on Queen Street East near Carlaw Avenue in WoodGreen’s Jack Layton Seniors Housing building,
“This innovative housing and care model, known as cluster care, provides seniors with affordable housing and 24-hour personal support in a shared living environment. We look forward to welcoming these seniors to their new homes in our community,” said Babcock.
The newly converted Cluster Care site will provide seniors with an additional nine units of affordable, supportive housing to the site’s existing portfolio of 52 Cluster Care units. The new units are converted from what was formerly a commercial space and employment office for WoodGreen staff in the Layton building.
Cluster Care units are specifically designed for older adults transitioning from MGH’s Memory Care Unit, which helps to ease burdens on the healthcare system by diverting patients from acute and long-term care. These units offer safe, comfortable living spaces with 24-hour personal support in a shared living environment catered to diverse cultural, linguistic, and care requirements.
“I am proud to see this partnership with WoodGreen Community Services and the federal government come together to be able to provide care and services to seniors in our community. This new cluster at 1080 Queen Street East is an example of the work we can accomplish when we work together to address the needs of our community,” said Kohn.
WoodGreen’s housing model places small groups of seniors (eight to 11 individuals) in private rooms with access to communal dining, common areas, and recreational spaces. Their goal is to allow older adults who require daily assistance – not long-term care – to maintain their independence and connection to the community while receiving specialized care on-site.
“This innovative model of care helps us deliver support to some of our most vulnerable citizens while ensuring that they continue to live in an environment that promotes independence. We look forward to welcoming our first clients to their new home and seeing this model of care expand in other parts of our city,” said Kohn
In addition to on call nursing and physician visits provided by MGH, tenants within the Cluster Care units will have access to daily living services such as personal care, meal preparation, laundry, medication reminders, household support, and enhanced behavioural and social programming.
The new cluster units come with an additional $1.6 million in funding from the federal government through the Rapid Housing Initiative; $420,661 from the City of Toronto; operational support from Michael Garron Hospital; and a $250,000 donation from the Dr. Allan Carswell Family Foundation.
The first new clients will begin moving in during the week of Feb. 24. Full occupancy is expected by March 15.
For more information about WoodGreen Community Services, please go to https://www.woodgreen.org/
