In a landmark achievement for healthcare in Eastern Ontario, Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) has been officially recognized as an Age-Friendly Health System, becoming one of the pioneering Canadian hospitals to receive this prestigious designation. The certification, awarded after a rigorous evaluation process, acknowledges PRHC’s exceptional commitment to providing specialized, compassionate care for older adults in the Peterborough community and surrounding regions.
“This designation represents years of dedicated effort to transform how we approach senior care,” explained Dr. Lynn Mikula, President and CEO of PRHC. “We’ve reimagined our protocols from the ground up to address the unique needs of our aging population, who represent a significant portion of our patient demographic.”
The Age-Friendly Health System initiative, originally developed by The John A. Hartford Foundation and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement in the United States, has been gaining momentum across Canada News as healthcare facilities adapt to demographic shifts. The framework revolves around what experts call the “4Ms” – what Matters to the patient, Medication optimization, Mobility enhancement, and Mentation (cognitive function) support.
At PRHC, these principles have translated into concrete improvements across multiple departments. The hospital has implemented comprehensive geriatric assessments upon admission, created specialized quiet zones to reduce confusion and disorientation, and introduced pharmacist-led medication reviews to prevent adverse drug interactions common in older adults taking multiple prescriptions.
One particularly innovative aspect of PRHC’s program involves their intergenerational mentoring initiative, which pairs senior patients with younger healthcare workers for knowledge exchange. This approach not only improves patient experience but contributes to staff education about age-related considerations in healthcare delivery.
“The aging process affects how medications are processed, how symptoms present, and how treatment plans should be structured,” noted Dr. Jennifer Spencer, PRHC’s Chief of Geriatrics. “Our staff now receive specialized training to recognize subtle signs that might otherwise be missed in older patients.”
The designation comes at a critical time as Canada’s population continues to age rapidly. According to Statistics Canada, adults over 65 now represent 18.5% of the country’s population, a figure projected to reach nearly 25% by 2036. In the Peterborough region specifically, seniors already make up over 22% of residents, making age-friendly healthcare adaptations particularly relevant.
Financial analysts tracking healthcare trends suggest this designation may also bring economic advantages for the hospital. Studies from the Canadian Institute for Health Information indicate that age-friendly practices can reduce hospital readmission rates by up to 17% and decrease average length of stay by 1.5 days for senior patients, resulting in significant cost savings while improving patient outcomes.
Provincial health officials are closely watching PRHC’s implementation as a potential model for other regional hospitals. The Ontario Ministry of Health recently announced plans to expand support for age-friendly designations across the province as part of its broader strategy to address healthcare needs of an aging population.
For Peterborough residents like 78-year-old Margaret Lawson, the changes are already making a difference. “I’ve been a patient here several times over the years, and I’ve noticed such improvement in how they approach my care,” Lawson said. “The staff take time to explain things clearly, they’re attentive to my mobility concerns, and they make sure my treatment plan makes sense for someone my age.”
As Canadian healthcare systems continue evolving to meet changing demographic needs, the question remains: will other hospitals across the country follow PRHC’s lead in prioritizing age-friendly care, and how might this reshape our approach to elderly health nationwide?
