Geriatric Specialty Services (GSS) - Island Health Area
Condition Specific Support, Mental Health - Senior, and Services for Seniors
Provided by Island Health
GSS provides specialized consultation for older adults with complex, unstable, or multi-factorial medical, psychiatric, cognitive, and functional concerns.
Geriatric Specialty Services (GSS) provide specialized consultation for older adults with complex, unstable, or multi factorial medical, psychiatric, cognitive, and functional concerns. Clients accessing these free services are typically frail, have multiple comorbidities, and/or require coordinated interprofessional assessment and care. The goal is to help seniors stay safe, healthy, and as independent as possible.
As GSS is a consultative service, the focus is on short-term support to stabilize the client and work with other teams and resources to improve safety, health, and quality of life. Depending on where the client lives and their need, GSS services may be offered virtually, in home, or in a clinic.
Geriatric Specialty Services Offered:
How to Access Program: A referral to Community Access is required from a family practitioner or nurse practitioner in order to access the Geriatric Specialty Services(providers see below).
As GSS is a consultative service, the focus is on short-term support to stabilize the client and work with other teams and resources to improve safety, health, and quality of life. Depending on where the client lives and their need, GSS services may be offered virtually, in home, or in a clinic.
Geriatric Specialty Services Offered:
- Seniors Outpatient Clinics (SOPC): Comprehensive Geriatric Medicine and/or Geriatric Psychiatry assessment (depending on location) with short-term treatment and follow-up to address complex medical, functional, cognitive, psychiatric and/or social needs
- GSS-MHSU Outreach Teams: Assessment and consultation provided in the patient’s home setting by an interdisciplinary team, typically for patients unable to attend clinic, with high complexity, or where there are concerns related to abuse or neglect. Physician assessment may occur in the home or at the local Community Health Services office
- Primary Care Memory Clinics (PCMC): Provides early cognitive and functional assessment, diagnosis support, and management recommendations for patients with new memory concerns
- Specialist Memory Clinic (SMC): Provides comprehensive assessment and consultation for patients with complex or atypical cognitive presentations
How to Access Program: A referral to Community Access is required from a family practitioner or nurse practitioner in order to access the Geriatric Specialty Services(providers see below).
Website: https://www.islandhealth.ca/our...
250-331-8570 (North Island Community Access)
Toll Free: 1-866-928-4988
Hours of Operation are 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
Serves all communities north of Deep Bay including the North Vancouver Island (Mt. Waddington) Regional District and neighbouring Gulf Islands, Port Alberni and Tofino.
Serves all communities north of Deep Bay including the North Vancouver Island (Mt. Waddington) Regional District and neighbouring Gulf Islands, Port Alberni and Tofino.
250-739-5749 (Central Island Community Access)
Toll Free: 1-877-734-4101
Hours of Operation are 8:30 AM to 8:00 PM, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
Serves all communities from Mill Bay to Deep Bay, including Gabriola Island.
Serves all communities from Mill Bay to Deep Bay, including Gabriola Island.
250-388-2273 (South Island Community Access)
Toll Free: 1-888-533-2273
Hours of Operation are 8:30 AM to 10:30 PM, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
Serves all communities south of Mill Bay, including Greater Victoria, the Southern Gulf Islands and west to Port Renfrew.
Serves all communities south of Mill Bay, including Greater Victoria, the Southern Gulf Islands and west to Port Renfrew.
Interpreter available upon request.
Cost: No cost
Referral options:
- Health professional referral
- Family physician or nurse practitioner referral
Associated Programs/Services
Also offered by Island Health:
Just the closest matches listed. Click to see more!- Urgent and Primary Care Centre (UPCC) - Westshore
- Interdisciplinary Outpatient Rehabilitation Program (IORP) - North Island Hospital, Comox Valley
- General Outpatient Physiotherapy Services - Comox Valley Hospital
Availability
Service area: Island Health Area + show cities
Service Types Provided
Condition Specific Support
Mental Health - Senior
Ways to Access
- Provided 1:1 in-person
- Provided at home
- Provided at multiple locations
- Provided by phone
- Provided online: email / video / on-line
The listing of this service in Pathways is not a recommendation or endorsement by Pathways.