Page 17 - GBGH Foundation - Mental Health Case For Support

8 beds for geriatric patients

• This kind of bed is for elderly patients with severe dementia
or delirium.

• A patient requiring this unit may present in the Emergency Department
demonstrating agitated or aggressive behaviours that make it unsafe to

remain either at home, in a retirement home or a long-term care home.

• These patients require extremely specialized care to help manage
their behaviours as well as concurrent geriatric care.

• This level of care provides three to one nursing care and a very specific
care plan to help meet the patient’s needs, as well as partnering with

other home and community care agencies to integrate them back into
the community.

• There are only two geriatric mental health units from Hwy 9 all
the way to Sudbury. With the rapidly aging population, the need for
geriatric mental health beds is a very urgent and growing need.

• Within the Midland and Penetanguishene area, the impact of an aging

population can be expected to be even more severe, as the proportion
of the population that is 65 and older (24.5% in 2016 in Midland, 22.77%
in 2016 in Penetanguishene) is already much greater than for Simcoe

County (approx. 17.5% in 2016).

MENTAL HEALTH CASE FOR SUPPORT • 17