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As people age, their goals are often centred around living independently while maintaining good physical and mental health. This can become challenging as complex health needs make it difficult to go to appointments, manage medications, and balance other healthcare needs.
For hundreds of seniors living in Edmonton, CapitalCare’s CHOICE (Comprehensive Home Option of Integrated Care for the Elderly) programs have made managing their health while living independently possible.
CHOICE programs engage clients as active participants to improve or maintain their health and independence. Clients attend programs that will support them in managing their health so they can continue to live independently in their own homes while still receiving the care and support they need. The CHOICE programs are centred around partnering with clients and their families with a shared goal to maintain independence, dignity, and quality of life.
The organization’s mission is to provide person-centred care with dignity and kindness. The CHOICE team works to achieve this by considering all potential needs and supports that could make life easier for seniors and their circles of care.
Trish McGrath, CapitalCare’s CHOICE Programs Manager, said that clients attend programs two or more times a week based on their needs. These programs include a full range of medical supports, rehabilitative/restorative therapies, recreational activities, cognitive supports, and personal support programs.
“We have clients coming in a couple times a week to access a full allied health team,” said Trish. “We have pharmacy teams, physicians, nurses, occupational therapy, physical therapy, social workers, recreation support, and healthcare aides all working together to support different aspects of care.”
The intention is to offer a one-stop shop for clients. This provides respite for care partners and families, while providing clients with a sense of comfort and familiarity.
“Seniors could be navigating the logistics of seeing 10 different healthcare providers in a week—the CHOICE program brings everything together under one roof in a comfortable setting,” said pharmacist Cheryl Weiss, Manager, Pharmacy Services.
Tricia Joseph, the pharmacist at CHOICE Dickinsfield, explained they also offer overnight care beds to provide a safety net for when clients require treatment, respite, or if they are waiting for placement in a continuing care facility. These treatment beds also allow the team to monitor clients during medication adjustments. Tricia added that they also have laboratory services available on a regular basis.
Tricia said this innovative approach to holistic care leads to meaningful improvements.
“We’re definitely seeing an increase in medication adherence. We meet with our clients often, so we really understand what’s working, what’s not, what we can change, and how we can make things better,” said Tricia.
Cheryl said it’s the personal relationships that make the biggest difference for a lot of clients.
“Instead of ‘I’m going to talk to a pharmacist,’ it’s ‘I get to talk to my pharmacist,’” said Cheryl. “Tricia doesn’t have to start every conversation at the beginning. The program is set up so that clients are heard and there are opportunities for building relationships in a way that contributes to meaningful care.”
Building trust and comfort with clients is achieved partly by creating a comfortable, familiar environment.
“Oftentimes, we’re working with clients while they’re having their coffee in the common area, instead of in a typical clinical type of room,” said Tricia. “We can sit together and just have a conversation about their health needs. I think a lot of clients really appreciate that.”
Cheryl added that they focus on long-term goals instead of short-term fixes.
“Having a longer-distance view on what we’re trying to achieve drives the team and the client towards a person-centred approach because ultimately we’re going on this journey together,” said Cheryl. “We are not able to achieve evidence-informed, long-term goals without a client’s engagement and buy in. We need to engage clients in goal setting and interventions to build a plan that is realistic and aligns with their own priorities.”
For most clients, a major goal is to continue to live independently. This program aims to give clients the tools and supports they need to avoid hospitalization and live on their own for as long as possible. This requires a collaborative approach of working closely with clients’ families and their circles of care, as well as with other healthcare providers who make up the CHOICE program’s team. Tricia said working with her healthcare colleagues is essential.
“It’s a very collaborative environment where everybody knows what’s happening with the clients,” said Tricia. “We have physicians, nurses, and healthcare aides all in the same room looking at orders and reviewing indications, so there is shared, collaborative decision making.”
The CHOICE programs have been supporting Edmonton seniors for over 30 years. They started with one location, CHOICE Dickinsfield, in 1996 and now operate five programs throughout the city. At the end of the day, the dedicated teams that run these programs want to ensure not only that seniors’ physical health is well managed, but that their mental well-being is looked after, too. The Care Manager at CHOICE Dickinsfield, Heather Stanchfield, said they try to make every day special for clients.
“Building relationships is an important part of the programs design—we create a space where friendships are formed, laughter is shared, and every individual is valued,” said Heather. “Therapeutic time with our team members, engaging in social activities, meals shared together, music, conversation, or simply a welcoming smile all help build connections.”
Heather said this approach makes a measurable difference for patients’ well-being.
“Evidence of the positive and notable outcomes for seniors in our program is the rate of pharmacological restraints, which is significantly lower than the provincial averages in continuing care.”
Heather added that bringing joy to clients’ lives is a key part of their approach to person-centred care.
“The clients really do have fun here—these programs are a really great antidote to that boredom, loneliness, and depression that can have such a big impact on seniors,” said Heather. “From outdoor barbeques to live music to holiday get-togethers, we really try to build those connections and make every day special.”
The CHOICE team recognizes that not every pharmacy team has the same opportunities to work as closely with patients, but Cheryl appreciates the efforts from all pharmacy teams to care for senior patients.
“I see so many examples of seniors receiving fabulous person-centred care in the community,” said Cheryl.
She added that she encourages pharmacy teams to have ongoing touch points with senior patients because their needs and goals are continually evolving.
“People continue to be dynamic throughout all ages and stages of life, so it’s not just about those initial conversations, it’s about continually revisiting and reconsidering the patient’s current needs,” said Cheryl, “When we set goals, sometimes we have to go back and adapt those goals because who the person is and what they’re trying to achieve has changed in the last year, or even in the last six months, so we need to pivot.”
For more than three decades, the CHOICE programs have demonstrated that when care is coordinated, collaborative, and person centred, patients have better health outcomes and can enjoy a better quality of life.
