Your care & safety during your stay
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Find resources to support emotional, psychological, mental health and addiction.
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Addiction support:
Narcotics Anonymous: Call the helpline (888) 811-3887, or email info@gtascna.org for support with drug and alcohol addiction. For meetings in Guelph, Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, Hanover, Fergus and Listowel please visit; gtascna.org.
Alcoholics Anonymous: If you need help with alcoholism, we have a live answering service that operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year; +1 (519) 829-9401. Click here for more information.
Immediate Support 24/7:
Boots on the Ground: a peer support hotline which provides anonymous services to first responders. 1-833-677-2668. Click here to learn more.
Here 24/7 Hotline: Mental health supports for Waterloo Wellington 1-844-437-3247 Click here to learn more.
Crisis Services Canada
If you, or someone you know, is in crisis, Crisis Services Canada is here to help. Its structure and focus is geared to strengthen regional service delivery and ensuring gaps in mental health and suicide prevention and support nationwide are addressed. If you feel you need help, please call
1-833-456-4566 (available 24/7)
Or text: 45645 (available 4pm - 12am. Standard text messaging rates apply).
Please click here: "Get Help" to learn more (or the "Get Help" tab at the top of the page).
Wellness Together Canada
By way of modules for addressing low mood, worry, substance use, social isolation and relationship issues, Wellness Together Canada provides tools and resources to help get Canadians back on track. Click here to start: Wellness Together Canada. Or, try out the new PocketWell App, recently released to merge seamlessly with the Wellness Together Canada platform, and is available through Google Play and the App Store.
Homewood Health Centre Resources
Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP Homewood Health): 1-800-663-1142
If you feel stress, fear, anxiety or simply want someone to talk to, Homewood are there for you 24/7/365. They will help get you the tools, resources and/or support you’re looking for. They have also provided a number of handout resources for you:
- COVID-19 - How to Stay Motivated
- COVID-19 - Managing the Impact
- COVID-19 - Support for First Responders
- COVID-19 - Managing Stress and Anxiety
- COVID-19 - Quelling Anxiety
Homewood Health has published a COVID-19 Pandemic Toolkit. The toolkit is a consolidation of content, both directly and indirectly related to COVID-19. They've put together a package of valuable and informative materials with information to support you and your family. The toolkit includes resources and addresses key and frequently asked questions. Homewood wants you to know they are here to help. Please don’t hesitate to reach out should you wish to discuss any components of the toolkit, or if there is anything they can do to provide support to you.
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Ongoing Support:
Greenshield Canada
The ongoing impact of COVID-19 has brought uncertainty and anxiety for many Canadians. In response, Green Shield Canada (GSC) understands that it’s more important than ever to put high-quality mental health care solutions within easy reach. Please remember to check your benefits plan for more information on mental health supports through Greenshield.
What you need to know: GSC is proud to be sponsoring Stronger Minds, a free digital program from MindBeacon that provides crucial mental health support for all Canadians. The program is available now at mindbeacon.com/strongerminds, and offers guidance in the form of short expert Q&A videos, quick reads, and resilience-building activities – all focused on protecting your emotional well-being as the COVID-19 crisis progresses. Click here for an overview that covers all the details you’ll need to determine whether this program is the right fit for you. Check it out today.BounceBack Ontario:
BounceBack is a free, guided self-help program that’s effective in helping people aged 15 and up who are experiencing mild-to-moderate anxiety or depression, or may be feeling low, stressed, worried, irritable or angry.
Participants receive telephone coaching, skill-building workbooks and online videos to help them overcome these symptoms and gain new skills to regain positive mental health. To receive telephone coaching support, clients must either be referred by their primary care provider (family doctor, nurse practitioner) or psychiatrist, or they may self-refer as long as they’re connected with a primary care provider. BounceBack is not a crisis service or counselling, but a life-skills program that participants work with to develop coping techniques so they can overcome challenges now or in the future. Typically, participants take three to six months to complete the program. Click here for more information.
Mindfulness is a good strategy that helps to calm the mind. There are many mindfulness apps out there that you're encouraged to explore - The Centre for Mindfulness Studies located in Toronto has its own wonderful free app (found where you download your apps), or its guided mindfulness sessions can also be found on the free app Insight Timer. When it comes to mindfulness, the important thing is to find the one that works best for you! Click here for more recommendations.
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Other Resources:
PocketWell
In January 2022, the Canadian Goverment created a new free app that works with their Wellness Together Canada program. Through PocketWell, people across Canada can access new resources, including a self-assessment tool and tracker that monitors mood and mental well-being
CAMH
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health offers information and suggestions about how best to cope during this difficult time on their COVID-19 Resource Page.
CAMH also developed ECHO Coping with COVID, designed for Hospital-Based Healthcare Providers and Residents responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants are invited to join ECHO sessions virtually through multi-point videoconference technology to share and learn about ways to build resilience and overall wellness through didactic lectures and case-based discussions.
CMHA Waterloo Wellington is offering a number of free webinars with health topics such as Challenging Negative Thinking, Coping with Isolation and Loneliness, and Understanding Mental Health. Click here to learn about how you can register and when the sessions are offered.
Frontline Resilience Resources:
- Coping for First Responders
- Coping for First Responder Families
- Coping for First Responder Children
- Coping through Health and Fitness
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre: "Your Health Matters"
Sunnybrook has published a number of positive, brief articles related to COVID19 that include:
- "Finding hope and resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic"
- "Simple ways of finding happiness in challenging times"
- "COVID-19: Practical cognitive behavioural strategies to manage your mental health"
- "Tips for health-care workers: Coping at work and at home during COVID-19"
- "Tips for health-care workers: How to get better sleep during COVID-19"
Canadian Psychological Association
The Canadian Psychological Association would like to help and has called on all registered psychology practitioners to consider donating some of their time to provide psychological services to front line health care providers who may be feeling stressed, overwhelmed or distressed by being on the front lines of this health crisis. Please click here for more information and to find a psychologist in Ontario to obtain support.
Ementalhealth.ca
Ementalhealth.ca is a non-profit initiative of the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) dedicated to improving the mental health of children, youth and families. It provides anonymous, confidential and trustworthy information, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Features include:
- Mental Health Help (i.e. directory of mental health services and organizations)
- Info Sheets: Information about a variety of mental health conditions and topics.
- Screening Tools: Find out if you or a loved one has a mental health concern with our free, online screening tools.
- Events Calendar: Information about mental health events in your area.
- News Feed: Information about the latest mental health news.
- Research directory: Information about research studies in your area.
The Wellness Society
The Wellness Society has created a Coronavirus Anxiety Workbook for adults to work through. Plus, they have shared a children's story book to use with your children.
Other Links:
Pandemic Pushing Your Anxiety Buttons
5 Tips to Support Mental Health
Talking to Your Anxious Child About Covid-19
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e-Learning Courses by Homewood Health
You must register first. Your information is kept entirely confidential and is only used for eligibility confirmation or statistical purposes by Homewood Health.
Click here for access to self-paced, interactive and confidential e-Courses.
Taking Control of Stress
Embracing Workplace Change
Taking Control of Job Loss and Transition
Resilience
Resolving Conflict in Intimate Relationship
Taking Control of Your Career
Taking Control of Your Money
Preparing for Your RetirementTaking Control of Mood
Responsible Optimism
Taking Control of Alcohol Use
Foundations of Effective Parenting
Taking Control of Anger
Stop Smoking: Get Your Life Back
Respect in the WorkplaceDisclaimer: This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Contact your physician or health care provider with any questions about your mental health, treatment or care.
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Guelph General Hospital provides a wide range of programs and services to the community we serve. Our healthcare team is supported by over 240 volunteers who contribute more than 20,000 hours of service each year.
Upon your arrival, an interdisciplinary team will assess your needs and determine what services you require. If you have any questions about your care, speak to your healthcare provider.
Your team may include physicians, nurses, dietitians, physiotherapists, occupational or respiratory therapists, social workers etc.
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Guelph General Hospital is committed to a process that helps staff and patients in making difficult decisions. During your hospitalization you may be asked to sign consents for tests,procedures and treatments. Before signing consent, be sure you understand all risks and benefits.
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Advance care planning is about expressing your wishes, while you are capable, about how you wish to be cared for in the future. It is also about giving someone you trust information regarding your wishes and the authority to make decisions for you in the future if you are not capable of doing so yourself. At a time when you are not capable of making decisions the person legally responsible for making decisions for you is called a Substitute Decision Maker.
A Power of Attorney is a document naming the person you wish to be your Substitute Decision Maker. A copy of your Advance Care Plan
or Power of Attorney documentation may be requested to assist your team in planning for your care. If you have questions about Advanced Care Planning or Powers of Attorney, or if you have a document prepared, please inform your healthcare team. -
During your stay, a staff member will assess your pain using a numeric pain scale of 0 to 10 or a visual face chart. A score of 0 is no pain and a score of 10 in the worst possible pain. Be sure to discuss your pain and possible pain management options with your health care team.
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It is important we know all of the medications you are currently taking. Bring your home medications to the hospital in their original containers and show them to one of the staff who is caring for you.
You may be asked to use medication(s) from home while you are in Hospital. A hospital pharmacist will identify these medications and a nurse will administer them for you. Any of your medications not used in Hospital will be safely stored and returned to you at the time of discharge.
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Hands are the main way that germs are spread. Germs are often harmless but they can also make you sick. Hands pick up germs from touching other people, things such as doorknobs and light switches, and by coughing or sneezing into your hands.
Frequent hand washing and cleaning your hands with hand sanitizer found throughout the Hospital are the most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs and infectious illnesses.
Anyone who is feeling unwell should not visit in person. Instead they can call or use our virtual visiting option.
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Blood clots in the deep veins or in the lungs can be a common complication in hospitalized patients. Called Venous Thromboembolism (VTE), there are many things you can to do help prevent them.
- Ask your doctor or nurse what is being done to reduce your risk of getting a blood clot?
- Ask if you should be given a medication to prevent unwanted clotting in the blood
- Resume normal physical activity and walking as soon as your doctor permits it
- Drink plenty of water to keep hydrated
- Report any chest pain, shortness of breath, pain or swelling in your leg to a member of your health care team
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Falls are a major health concern for ALL patients in our hospital. Falls can cause head injuries, broken bones, reduced mobility, and increased fear. Unfortunately, 40 per cent of nursing home placements occur as a result of falls.
At GGH, we take falls seriously and do what we can to help reduce the risk of falls. Patients too can play a role in making sure they don’t fall. For example, tell the nurse if you are in pain, or feel dizzy or thirsty. Ask staff for help to get up and moving. Finally, be sure to use your call bell should you need help.
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A pressure injury is also known as a bedsore or pressure ulcer. Pressure injury is damage that occurs on the skin and underlying tissue. Inactivity, friction, poor nutrition and moist wet skin are common causes. The most common places for pressure ulcers to develop are over bony areas such as heels, ankles, elbows, hips, shoulders, and the lower back.
Pressure injuries are caused by a lack of blood supply to an area of skin. These injuries begin as a reddened area on the skin and can become an open sore. They can occur from intense pressure over a lengthy period of time or less pressure over a long period of time
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To help promote healthy lifestyle choices, smoking, vaping and e-cigarettes are not allowed anywhere on hospital property. To help ease the craving for nicotine, medical support is available to patients. Just ask your healthcare provider.
Hospital property does not include the public sidewalk on Delhi Street. Our smoke-free policy is enforced with the assistance of Public Health under the Tobacco Control Act.
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At GGH we aim to have a discharge time of 9 a.m. as this allows time to prepare your bed for the next patient. This can be delayed as your doctor may need more information such as test results before you can leave. As part of planning for your discharge, you and your family or caregiver may meet with a Social worker or a Care Coordinator from the Waterloo Wellington Local Health Integration Network (WWLHIN) to help prepare the support that you might need to return home.
When leaving, please make sure that you have all of your belongings and hospital cards, as well as post-hospital instructions and prescriptions as needed. It is important you understand all instructions about your medication, diet, activity and return appointments. If you are unsure about anything, please ask your healthcare provider before you leave.
In some cases, if you need more time to help you recover your strength before you go home, you healthcare team may suggest a short stay in a transitional care program or an alternate care facility, such as an inpatient rehabilitation program, where you can continue your recovery. If you are considering placement into a long-term care home, your healthcare team will plan for the help you will need to return home while you wait.
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There may come a time when your health has improved to a point that you no longer need to be in an acute care hospital but you may require another program before returning home, such as a rehabilitation program or a different level of care such as a retirement home or nursing home. This is referred to as waiting for an Alternate Level of Care (ALC). If you become an ALC patient, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care supports hospitals charging ALC patients a daily fee while waiting in hospital to leave. The fee helps cover the cost of your accommodation and meals and is based on your monthly income. For more information, please ask to speak with a social worker or your Resource Nurse.