Resource
Admission to the Mental Health Inpatient Unit
When your loved one is admitted to the unit, their valuables will be securely stored away, including their cell phone and other electronic devices. The patient will be assigned to a bed, and will be assigned to a Psychiatrist from the unit. Your loved will have a treatment team that may consist of psychiatrists, nurses, social workers, and occupational therapists. There is a patient phone on the ward that the patient can access once they are settled in. They will be allowed to use this phone to send and receive calls during their stay.
Visiting patients
If you want to bring personal items to your loved on during their stay, please double check with the nursing staff. The HOpe Centre is a smoke free environment and we recommend that you do not bring items of value such as laptops or iPads.
When your loved one has been admitted to the unit, there are several things you can do to make the process easier for both your family and your loved one.
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Identify one support person to be the liaison between the care team and family/friends to ensure communication. Please provide the admitting nurse with their contact information. The family contact designate is welcome to call the team station and ask to speak to your loved one's nurse for an update on how he/she is doing. The telephone number is (604) 984-5010. Please respect the one person contact so the team will be free to focus on caring for your loved one.
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Respect visiting hours: Monday – Friday: 5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. Weekends & Holidays: 12:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. There are set visiting hours so your loved one can participate in individual or group treatment programs during the day. Exceptions require advance permission.
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Participate in the process. Have your designated contact ask who is assigned to your loved one's case and have the designated person contact their social worker, nurse, and/or psychiatrist to request a family meeting. This meeting would be best arranged through the social worker (social workers' hours are Monday to Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.)
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Come to meetings prepared. Bring a notebook with questions you may have. Take notes and ask questions as needed. If you are not sure or do not understand what you have been told by the staff, ask for clarity.
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"HOpe4Families" is a support and information meeting for families with a loved one on the unit that meets every 2nd Thursday from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. This is an opportunity to talk with a member of the Family Advisory Committee. The group meets at the reception desk on the main floor of the HOpe Centre. If you are interested in attending, ask the patient's assigned social worker more about this. The staff may need the consent of your loved one to share their health information with you.
What happens if your loved one is not admitted to the Mental Health Inpatient Unit
If your loved one is not admitted to the Mental Health Inpatient unit, they may be directed to the following services:
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Acute Home Based Treatment requires a referral by a family doctor or by the Psychiatric Emergency Dept. Call (604) 984-5000.
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Central Intake for Adult Community Mental Health offers psychiatric assessments and nurse consultations. Families or patients can call for information as well as referrals to various programs. Call (604) 984-5000.
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Magnolia House is a sub-acute option for people not needing hospital care but needing a safe place to stabilize. A physician referral is required.
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Stepping Stones Concurrent Disorders Service offers programs for individuals struggling with substance use and mental illness. Call (604) 982-5616.
