This Seniors Month, Dr. Jocelyn Charles, Chief of Sunnybrook’s Veterans Program, highlights Sunnybrook’s advances in personalized care for seniors and their families. With over 30 years of dedication to Veterans and patients, Dr. Charles has been instrumental in planning the new Peter Cipriano Centre for Seniors Health—a donor-funded centre that unites care teams and expands services. Its construction also led to major upgrades in Sunnybrook’s Veterans Centre, improving therapy gyms, the library, and communal areas for a safer, more welcoming environment.
As Canada’s first hospital with the Age-Friendly Health System designation, Sunnybrook is committed to high-quality, patient-focused senior care. In this Q&A, Dr. Charles discusses how these initiatives will transform care for seniors and the community.
Sunnybrook Foundation: Dr. Charles, could you explain what coordinated health care means for seniors, and why it’s so important today?
Dr. Charles: Coordinated health care for seniors is a holistic approach that unites multiple health professionals to address complex needs. At Sunnybrook, our expert geriatrics team and unique ties to Canada’s largest Veterans residence enable us to enhance senior care. The Peter Cipriano Centre will support Veterans and seniors through collaborations with partners like SPRINT Senior Care and North Toronto providers ensuring seamless care, while Sunnybrook’s Emergency Department (ED) One Team improves hospital outcomes for seniors.
Sunnybrook Foundation: How will the Peter Cipriano Centre for Senior Health benefit seniors in terms of the services and programs offered?
Dr. Charles: This new centre is bringing together a team of health professionals, including physicians, nurses, social workers, occupational therapists and physiotherapists, and others tailored to patients needs. We’ll work closely with each senior to develop care plans that consider the individual’s goals, priorities, and values. Our aim is to ensure that seniors can live independently and with the best quality of life.
Sunnybrook Foundation: You’ve mentioned the importance of helping seniors live independently at home. How will the programs at the Peter Cipriano Centre for Seniors Health support this goal?
Dr. Charles: The Cipriano Centre plays a vital role in coordinating care between geriatrics and other specialties, ensuring all providers are connected within a senior’s care circle. We work closely with the community to offer health education on topics such as advance care planning and emergency preparedness, fall prevention, diet, exercise, and medication safety. These initiatives support seniors in staying healthy and safe at home, helping them maintain their independence and enjoy a high quality of life.
Learn more about how Sunnybrook is helping support seniors in our community.
