How an at-home medical program lets these Londoners live a purposeful, independent life

Melissa Poirier, 35, enjoys cooking, going to Tim Hortons, and learning how to do pottery.

Doing simple tasks like these were hard for Poirier to even imagine as she recovered in an intensive-care unit bed after getting a tracheotomy — a surgically-created breathing hole in her windpipe — and requiring an oxygen tank at all times. 

Over the summer, Poirier was able to move into a home where she can be more independent and participate in activities, while receiving medical care through an integrated program for long-term ventilation (LTV) patients at PHSS Medical and Complex Care in Community. 

"I like it better than the hospital," Poirier said. "Now, I have a place where I can live and move around so it means a lot to me and it helps me feel better."

The London-based non-profit provides 24-hour residential supports like respite care, overnight ventilators, and recreational programs for patients with medical complexities or developmental disabilities. It supports more than 300 individuals at 75 locations across Ontario.

The program has been running for 13 years and partners with London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph's Health Care, who discharge patients on a case-specific basis. On-site staff are trained by respiratory therapists and nurses based on the unique needs of every individual, and work with residents to create avenues for them to pursue their passions.

"It helps give them an enriched life where they get to live in their community and can be valued members who live like everyone else," said Megan Lamonaca, a PHSS care coordinator. 

"It just gives them a lot of self confidence and self worth, that they can do these little mundane things like doing the laundry, picking out their clothes, and planning activities they want to do, anywhere from pottery to going to the gym."

'These are whole people'

The program gave Mahmood Ahmad, 67, an opportunity to start a mechanical engineering degree at Western University, where he's a straight-A student and attends in-person labs. 

"It's very good living here. During the day I study and at night, I watch movies," said Ahmad, who spent 10 years in the intensive care unit of a Windsor hospital following a spinal injury and paralysis, before moving to a PHSS-supported home in 2019.  

"I like to study and I decided to take these courses to keep myself busy with something. [Before my injury] I used to work and I miss working."

All individuals part of LTV are funded through provincial and federal ministries. The program also eases strain on the health-care system by freeing up beds for other patients, said board chair Brian Orr. 

"An intensive-care unit is not where you want to live. These are whole people and we often think [people with disabilities] are limited in capacity but these people are very bright and deserve to have the ability to live a full and meaningful life," he said.

The cost of running accessible homes with on-site staff is about one-third of the cost of supporting individuals in a intensive-care hospital setting, which allows the health-care system to save money as well, Orr said. 

A 'life-changing' program

Chelsey Walters, 39, has decorated her bedroom with paintings she made during art activities and her latest hobby has been learning to strum a guitar.

Watching Walters find a sense of purpose and community has been comforting, said her parents, Rick and Susan, who are both retired. 

"Her life changed and so did ours," said Rick. "She was so dependent on us before and now she likes to go out with other people, she's totally changed. It's a relief and it definitely gives us peace of mind."

"We're also aging and now we know that she's going to be looked after if something happens to us. These homes are a Godsend and there's such a need for them," Susan added. 

The couple appreciate the support their daughter gets with LTV, but acknowledge that others with medical complexities don't have the same access to resources. They want funding for similar programs and paratransit improved so more people can be supported, they said.