Continence care for seniors in the Brantford community is now made possible by funding through the new LHIN "Aging at Home" strategy. The program is located at St. Joseph's Lifecare Centre, 99 Wayne Gretzky Parkway.
St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton is pleased to announce the expansion of its successful Continence Program to additional locations across the LHIN catchment area.
Dr. Jennifer Skelly, Director of the Continence Program, St. Josephs Healthcare in partnership with Hamilton Health Sciences, Hotel Dieu Shaver Health and Rehabilitation Centre, St. Catharines, Norfolk General Hospital, Simcoe, and the HNHB Community Care Access Centre is opening 5 new clinics across the region. This will make it easier for seniors to access bladder and bowel care closer to home. Dr. Skelly notes, “For 16 years now I’ve had seniors, who had the means to travel, come to my clinic from all over the region to get help for their incontinence. These new clinics will mean more seniors have better access to help and they only have to go as far as their community hospital.”
The other four new clinics will be located in Hamilton at Chedoke Hospital and St. Peter’s Hospital; in St. Catharines at Hotel Dieu Shaver Health and Rehabilitation Centre; and in Simcoe at Norfolk General Hospital.
The clinics, under the direction of Dr. Skelly, will be staffed by nurse continence advisors (NCA), who are registered nurses holding an advanced certificate related to continence care from McMaster University and are experienced in managing bladder and bowel concerns. Men and women over the age of 60 are eligible to attend these free clinics. “Bladder and bowel problems are not something seniors have to live with,” Dr. Skelly shares. “It is not a normal part of getting older. These problems can be managed and often cured without the need for surgery or medication. We believe in providing quality bladder and bowel care for quality living.”
Seniors who would benefit from the Continence Care Clinics may be experiencing some of the following problems: going to the bathroom often; worrying about falling when rushing to the bathroom; leaking urine when laughing, coughing, sneezing or doing activities; having frequent bladder infections; waking up often at night to urinate; having strong need to urinate right away; experiencing problems with constipation and or bowel control. Seniors can make their own appointment in the clinics by calling 905-573-4821 or they can have their family doctors make a referral by faxing the Clinics’ central intake at 905-560-1574.
Media Contact:
Melissa Northwood
Nurse Continence Advisor and Project Manager
Continence Care Clinics
905-573-4821
continenceclinic@bell.net