Designated clinic spaces in LTC support resident privacy, wellbeing

Our personal space is our sanctuary. Whether it’s our home, bedroom or living room, personal space is where we can take time for ourselves and fully relax.

In a long-term care (LTC) home, many areas are common spaces, making it essential that residents’ rooms feel private and welcoming, a place where they can be comfortable, safe and themselves. Unfortunately, in most LTC homes, routine exams and procedures – ranging from blood tests and ECGs to injections, sutures and even routine cervical health screenings – are performed in residents’ rooms simply because appropriate clinical spaces aren’t available.

“While residents value the personal conversations that happen during in-room rounds and the comfort of what many of them refer to as ‘house calls,’ we recognize that a bedroom is a resident’s private sanctuary and not always the right setting for medical procedures or tests,” says Jenn Killing, VP Quality, Research and Strategic Partnerships.

When Dr. Tracey Hughes was appointed as peopleCare’s Chief Medical Officer in 2024, one of her first priorities was to collaborate with our Medical Directors to enhance resident care. An early focus was the need for appropriate clinical spaces within the LTC homes. This led to the creation of peopleCare’s Wellness Centres, dedicated, purpose-built rooms designed to deliver high-quality care efficiently and respectfully.

“It is not at all the norm for clinic spaces to exist in this sector,” Dr. Hughes explains. “Usually, healthcare providers have to bring in tools from their offices, or they have to try to find the right supplies at the home. These Wellness Centres provide a sterile, organized setup that improves both the quality and efficiency of care.”

The centres also add to the overall resident experience. “Residents with dementia often remember going to the doctor, so they can be more accepting of procedures received in a doctor’s office rather than in their bedroom,” Dr. Hughes adds.

peopleCare’s new Meaford LTC home, which opened in 2022, was the first to benefit from a designated Wellness Centre, a feature that will be in all new peopleCare builds.

Melody Fox, Nurse Practitioner at peopleCare Meaford, notes, “Residents really like the privacy. They feel a sense of safety and confidentiality when they come to the room to discuss their needs and concerns. It can even give people an extra reason to get up, get dressed and go see someone.”

She also points out that the Wellness Centres support peopleCare’s strategic priorities of transforming experiences and creating vibrant communities. “A lot of thought has gone into how our homes are designed. The Wellness Centres reflect our commitment to person-centred care, offering privacy, dignity, and a welcoming environment that makes people feel safe, comfortable and cared for,” she says.