CHOICE© Program

In partnership with Alberta Health Services, The Good Samaritan Society CHOICE© Program (Comprehensive Home Option for Integrated Care of the Elderly) provides seniors with complex medical conditions (who might otherwise be eligible for admission to a continuing care centre) the advantage of living at home by utilizing the support services made available at the site.

Led by a multi-disciplinary team including a physician, social worker, chaplain, nurse, rehabilitation therapists, dietician and other health care workers who work with a program manager, participants come to the centre to access a broad range of services including:

• Physician care
• Nursing care
• Health and wellness education
• Rehabilitation services
• Pastoral care
• Social Work services
• Medications and Pharmacist consultants
• Meals and dietary consultation
• Transportation to and from the program
• Recreation and socialization
• 24 access to RN support
• Home support (based on assessed need)
• Access to overnight respite care

The goals of the program are to:

• Provide a safe, caring, stress-free environment with meaningful activities and stimulation designed to preserve remaining abilities for as long as possible.
• Enhance the quality of life of both the client’s and those in their support network, as well as to provide respite and support to caregivers.

The program promotes independence and socialization through a structured program with consistent, trained staff familiar with the client’s past histories and present care needs. Activities are aimed at life skills and what is familiar to provide for feelings of success and accomplishment. The CHOICE© Program staff, clients and families are partners working together and each partner has a responsibility.

The CHOICE© Program operates five days a week and can accommodate up to 45 participants per day with a maximum registration of 90.There is also a specialized program called the Special Care Program. This program is for clients needing a smaller, quieter program. Often, clients with more advanced dementia benefit in this environment.

A retrospective chart review conducted in 2012 substantiated that in the year following CHOICE© program enrolment, clients suffered less falls. In addition, the  average number of emergency room visits, hospital admissions, and the length of hospitalization significantly decreased (Samuel, Mu, Dobbs, Babenko, 2015).

Reference
Samuel, S., Mu, L., McKay, R. Dobbs, B., & Babenko, O. (2015). CHOICE 15 years later: an evaluation of the CHOICE program. University of Alberta. Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry. Department of Family Medicine.

What do some of our participants have to say about their experience with the program:

“A cure for loneliness”
“It’s good to get out and have fellowship. It gets me out of the house and has helped me form new friendships.”
“A chance to socialize and get out, otherwise I could not get out of my home and I would be lonely”
“It is a friendly, happy meeting place”
“A place that keeps my mind challenged”

Two locations in Edmonton:

Good Samaritan Place
8425-83 Street
780-413-3500

Good Samaritan Dr. Gerald Zetter Centre
9649-71 Avenue
780-431-3901

For further information and/or enrollment into the program call Alberta Health Services at 780.496-1300.