Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

GRAVENHURST — Five transitional care hospital beds previously located at Andy’s House in Port Carling are being relocated the Granite Ridge Retirement Residence here this year.

It’s another partnership with a second private sector Gravenhurst retirement home for Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare or the short-term stay patients.

MAHC said today that the Granite will provide the beds that support patients in the community who no longer require acute hospital care, but still need additional time and support to regain strength before returning home or transitioning to their next care setting.

In 2024 the Alexander Retirement Residence became home for 10 other temporary hospital-use beds.

A hospitals release today says transitional beds play a critical role in the healthcare system by allowing patients who no longer need acute care to wait and get stronger in a location more suited to their needs.

The model supports recovery and rehabilitation, lowers the number of patients designated as Alternate Level of Care (ALC) in hospital, and frees up acute care beds for those who need them most — ensuring the right care in the right place at the right time.

“This partnership with Granite Ridge Retirement Residence is an important step in strengthening our system of care across Muskoka…,” said Cheryl Harrison, MAHC’s CEO.

“This collaboration reflects our commitment to working with community partners to improve access, flow, and patient experience.”

“We are honoured to partner with Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare to support the introduction of transitional care beds at Granite Ridge,” said Jackie Payne, Granite’s director of operations. “These beds will allow individuals to continue their recovery and rehabilitation in a supportive environment while helping to ensure hospital resources are available for those who need acute care.”

MAHC is thankful for the ongoing strong and valued partnership shared with Hospice Muskoka (Andy’s House), where the beds were previously located.

MAHC said last year that the transitional bed partnership would be coming to an end; this evolution will allow MAHC to support new areas of community needs, while continuing to work closely with existing partners.

Donna Kearney, executive director of Hospice Muskoka, shared the following statement:
“Hospice Muskoka looks forward to continued collaboration with MAHC, with referrals to Andy’s House for people requiring end-of-life care and ongoing partnership around the Andy’s House at Home Program to support people receiving palliative care at home.

“Our shared goal is a future where pain and symptom management can be provided to people in Muskoka and the surrounding area without the need for emergency room visits.”

Hospice Muskoka impact

Reached later today for further comment, Kearney added this:

“MAHC has funded beds at Hospice Muskoka since May of 2022. In the past 2.5 years of that partnership we have been successful in reducing the number of palliative admissions to MAHC by 88%.

“We have also been successful in demonstrating local needs for additional hospice beds in Muskoka, which resulted in government funding for 7 of our 10 beds (leaving 3 funded by MAHC). The partnership also allowed the population of Muskoka and the health system partners to understand the roll of a hospice and improved awareness to the Palliative Approach to Care provided by secondary level providers (specialized education).

“The partnership with MAHC has been a success by all accounts and Hospice Muskoka is grateful to have had the opportunity to show Muskoka what we do.

“We knew the funding would end at some point and that time has come. MAHC has a new priority population to build options for and Hospice Muskoka is looking at our opportunities for continued growth and accessibility for the people we serve. I will update you once we have landed on our plan; likely after the provincial budget is announced in March or April.”

Hospice Muskoka began with 10 beds.

“From Oct 2020-May 2022 the province funded 3 of those 10,” she said.

In 2022 the province funded 3 and MAHC funded 5.

And in 2024 the province funded 3 with MAHC fundeding 7

In 2025 – the province funded 7 and MAHC funded 3

In 2026 as of Jan 23 the province will funds 7 and 3 beds are unfunded, said Kearney.

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