What to expect during your inpatient stay at G.F. Strong

All the rooms at G.F. Strong are semi-private, with two people per room.  You will share a half-bathroom between two rooms. There is a central shower/bath area on each unit. Talk to your nurse about availability.   

You will have a bedside table with a small, locked drawer and a key for your personal use. 

Each unit has a refrigerator, microwave, toaster, and kettle. We cannot accommodate personal refrigerators in your room, so please ask for labels and label your items in the unit fridge. 

It is common to have your bed or room assignment changed during your stay.  This is due to several variables including patient safety and infection control requirements.  Staff will try to do so with as little disruption as possible, and we appreciate your understanding in advance.

Rehab helps you prepare for life after your injury or illness. Your care team will expect you to get up, get going with your day, and ensure you are ready for your morning appointments. The nursing staff will support you with the assistance you need. 

Participation in activities of daily living (such as getting dressed, grooming, and eating) is an important part of rehabilitation. You will be encouraged to participate in these activities as much as possible.  

Your care team will supply you with a therapy schedule.  Your therapy schedule will change often, and you may not see each therapist daily. Please check your schedule each day. Therapy times should be respected. If you are unwell or cannot attend a session, please ask your care team to notify your therapist. 

Therapy interventions generally run Monday to Friday, anytime between 8:00 and 4:30. A scheduled rest time may also be included in this part of your day. There is no regular therapy on weekends. 

You will receive notice if your care team schedules an appointment for you outside the centre. The unit clerk will arrange transportation to attend these appointments. If you make an out-of-centre appointment, you must talk to the unit clerk to discuss transportation.   

Your daily weekday program may include a combination of the following activities:  

• One-to-one therapy  
• Group therapy
• Working with a Rehab Assistant on activities set up by your therapist
• Exercises you do on your own or with supervision
• Trying, choosing, and getting medical equipment
• Learning about your care and how to direct your care
• Team meetings  

As you progress through rehab and achieve goals, your therapists may decrease your 1-on-1 therapy time and increase recommendations for activities that you can do independently. Your therapist’s role will change to guiding and directing rather than hands-on.  As you learn more skills, we want you to practice and do more independently.   

There are routine education sessions for clients recovering from a spinal cord injury. They run on the second floor every Tuesday and Thursday from 12:45 to 1:45 p.m.  No therapy occurs during this time, and you are encouraged to attend regularly.  

Let your care team know if you need to see your doctor. 

Morning Routine  

Your morning routine will include bowel and bladder management, medications, breakfast, washing and dressing, wound care, treatments, and therapy.   To prevent complications, if you have a bowel and bladder routine, we highly suggest you follow it. 

Evenings   

Evenings have less structure. You may want to visit with friends or family or attend recreation programs. If you need assistance going to bed, please arrange an appropriate time with your nurse. Quiet time begins at 10 p.m. We encourage you to get as much rest as possible to fully participate during the day.  

Showers  

There is a shower room. Should you require assistance, your care team will schedule your showers 1 – 2 times per week (dependent on the unit you are on), usually before therapy in the morning or in the evening. Ask your nurse which days or evenings you are scheduled. 

Shift changes  

Shift changes happen at 7 a.m., 3 p.m., and 11 p.m. During these times, nurses may take longer to respond to requests, we ask that you be patient.  

Emergencies are always responded to immediately. 

Leisure time  

Evenings and weekends offer an opportunity to rest and partake in leisure activities.   

Leisure events in the community and visits home are encouraged and are part of your rehab program.  Dependent on your plans, your Doctor will order a day pass or an overnight pass for you.  

Whenever you leave the building, please tell the staff before you go and when you expect to return. Also, make sure you fill in the sign-in/sign-out sheets at the main desk of each floor.  

We ask that you return by 9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.  If you are late, please phone the nursing unit to tell them. Your care team can make special arrangements to allow patients to enter the building after closing hours. 

For the first couple of days, or while you need help eating, depending on your program you will eat in your room or your unit’s day room.

Unit meal tray schedule 

• Breakfast 7:30 a.m.
• Lunch 11:30 a.m.   
• Dinner 5:15 p.m.  

After a few days, and when it is safe to do so, you will be asked to go to the Client Dining room on the main floor and choose your own meal. The dining room service is part of your rehabilitation. It helps with your independence and time management and allows you to make choices about what you eat.  

Client dining room meal schedule 

• Snacks 10:15 - 10:45 a.m. and 2:30 - 3:30 p.m.
• Lunch opens at 11:45 a.m.
• Dinner opens at 5:30 p.m.   

The food services staff will post the lunch and dinner menus for the current and next day outside the client dining room.  

• Each meal has two choices for an entrée, a dessert, and a hot or cold beverage.
• The cafeteria will serve you a standard portion. If you would like a small or large portion, please request this when you select your meal.
• If you have special dietary needs (e.g., you don't eat beef or pork or are vegetarian), let the food services staff know as you choose your meal.)
• Staff may ask you to identify yourself with your hospital wristband to ensure you receive the correct meal options.
• Food Services staff can help you carry your tray to your table and open any packages. Please let the food services staff know if you need help.
• If you need snacks outside of the meal and snack times, speak to your dietitian or care staff on your unit.
• An evening snack is available on the care unit.
• If you plan to have your meal at a different time than the scheduled meal times in the client dining room, please tell the staff on your unit beforehand. They can order a meal tray or bagged meal for you. 

• Televisions - T.V.s can be requested for personal use; we have a stock of donated T.V.s available in limited quantities. You may bring in a small T.V. (21" or less) and have it approved by maintenance.
• Comfort items- Warm blankets are available on request. Fire regulations prohibit the use of heating pads or bean bags.
• Personal laundry - Clothes washers, dryers, and laundry soap are available in each unit, ask your care team when you can access them for personal laundry. Talk to a staff member if you cannot do your own laundry. Your laundry bag is in the closet. Please make sure all your clothes have your name on them.
• WiFi—Free WiFi is available throughout the centre. Please ask the unit clerk or switchboard how to access it.
• Mail - A mailbox is just outside the main entrance of G.F. Strong. The nearest post office is in the King Edward Mall (corner of Oak Street and King Edward Avenue) 

Family and friends are an important part of your recovery. Your family or support people are encouraged to attend therapy sessions to learn how to best support you.   

We want you to have every chance to get well, so visitors who feel unwell (for example, have a cold or flu), have been near someone else who is ill or even have cold sores should not come to the hospital. Ask family and friends to wash their hands before and after they visit your hospital room or to use available alcohol-based liquid/foam hand sanitizers. 

What friends and loved ones can do 

You may be helping your family or friends settle into G.F. Strong. You can help in a big way by offering support and ensuring they have what they need to be successful in rehab. We encourage friends and loved ones to bring in small, meaningful items to support clients. Items include their favourite music, a book, a journal, photos or a special item.  There is little space for personal items, and G.F. Strong is not responsible for damage or loss during their stay. Clients using their own electronics will also require their own accompanying chargers, cables, and earphones.  Their name should be on all clothing and personal items. 

You can help support their rehab, therapy and rest times the following ways:  

• Practice what has been taught to them for homework, as guided by their therapists.   
• Listen to what is important to them.   
• Learn what you can from their team members.   
• Provide downtime for rest based on their needs.
• Support passes out of the hospital when they are ready to start
• And with guidance from members of the GF Strong team, you may be asked to assist to:
  • Acquire recommended equipment
  • Help prepare their home for discharge 

You are a valuable part of the team in helping your loved one in their rehab and recovery.