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Questions For Further Discussion:

d. Should the future continuing psychiatric care facilities be
ersanized as direct government operations (as is presently the
case at Riverview/Valleyview), placed under existing Hospital
Societies, or administered by separate Boards of Management?

4. COMMUNITY RESIDENTIAL CARE

Problems:

- difficulty in gaining access to appropriate residential care beds,
especially for patients ready to be discharged from hospital and those
with special care requirements.

- difficulty tn securing emergency accomodation after regular business
ours.

- lack of aefined standaras for mental health residential care programs,
staffing, facilities, and overall business management.

Lonsensus:
4.1 All referrals for residential care in each region should be

co-ordinated through a single office, with a mechanism for after-hours
contact and facility access.

4.2 Urban regions should consiaer the establishment of a facility like
- “Venture” operated by G.V.M.H.S. Society in Vancouver as an
alternative to hospitalization for some. In local areas or non-urban
regions a few emergency “swing beds" should be developed for this
purpose as part of existing care facilities.

Consideration should be given to the development of a capacity for
respite care for those living with fami‘ies, through either a special
fac’lity for urban regions, or a few beds in local areas or non-urban
regions as part of existing residential care facilities.

A few intensive special care ("IC4") facilities should be established
in various areas to provide a greater level of residential care than
is currently available as an alternative to care in continuing
psychiatric facilities for some.

-

More high quality general care (IC3) facilities shoula be established
to speed hospital discharge, and provide an alternative to care in
continuing psychiatric facilities for some.

Standards should be developed for mental health residential care
programs, staffing, facilities, and overall business management.

Consideration should be given to the establishment of special training

programs for staff of resiaential care facilities which focuses on
active rehabilitation approaches as well as supportive care.

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