Vancouver Coastal Health delivers quality health services to the people and communities we serve. Read more...
The Doctor…
is the team member responsible for your rehab program and for taking care of the medical part of your treatment. The doctor keeps you, your family and referring doctor informed about progress. S/he talks with lawyers, insurance agencies, employers and others who need to know about your progress. If at any time you wish to see your doctor alone, please ask his or her secretary.
The Rehab Nurse…
will help you with actions which you may find hard to do for yourself (such as bathing, dressing, toileting, and feeding) and will teach you new skills you may need to learn (such as skin care and bowel and bladder management). The rehab nurse will teach you and encourage you to do as much as possible on your own. This will help you to be as independent as possible. As the only member of the team to care for you 24 hours-a-day, the main job of the rehab nurse is to help you to practise the skills you have learned. The rehab nurse is also ready to listen to and offer emotional support to you, your family and your friends.
The Physical Therapist (PT)…
will work with you to regain as much of your movement and physical fitness as possible through a number of treatments. Exercises, which may include pool treatment, are to improve strength, flexibility, range of movement and stamina. You will receive advice about choosing and using proper equipment, e.g. walking aids, braces or wheelchair. Techniques to manage pain may include ice, heat, acupuncture or relaxation training. If needed, you will learn ways to help you breathe more easily. Your physical therapist will also suggest ways to help you stay active and independent after you leave GF Strong Rehab Centre.
The Occupational Therapist (OT)…
will help you to regain the skills needed for everyday living, such as dressing, eating, bathing, and shopping, as well as for tasks related to homemaking, school, work and leisure. The therapist will also help you choose the right equipment to increase your freedom, such as bathroom aids and wheelchairs. If your home needs changes for better safety and access, an OT will assess your home.
The Social Worker…
can talk to you and your family about how things are going and what the future holds. You may be concerned about your care at GF Strong, your feelings of sadness and confusion, your relationship with your family, or your future finances. The social worker will also work with you to help find housing, apply for financial support and arrange for help with your care needs.
The Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP)…
provides help for people who have had a change in how they are able to talk and/or swallow. You may want help in making your speech easier to understand or in being able to say what you want in speech or writing. You may have a hard time understanding what people are saying to you or you may have some difficulty reading. The Speech-Language Pathologist will work with you to try to improve your skills and will also help you learn ways to deal with these changes. The SLP will also help if you are having trouble swallowing food or drink.
The Psychologist…
helps you to understand the changes in your thinking, memory or behaviour, which may result from your illness or injury. You may be given tests to assess a range of thinking and memory skills. The results of these tests can help to create the right treatment for you. The psychologist can also provide treatment for you and your family to understand how changes in thinking and behaviour may affect living in the community.
The Recreational Therapist…
helps you and your family to explore recreation choices that will add to your health and rehab. Recreation is an important part of your life. A recreation therapist will help you discover leisure choices available in your community, develop skills, increase confidence and have fun. This is part of a healthy and active lifestyle after you go back home.
The Sexual Health Clinician…
provides an opportunity for you (and your partner/family) to voice your concerns and to learn information about sexuality following an injury or illness. These concerns may be about sexual functioning, sexual relations or feelings you may have about yourself as a sexual person. If you would like to know more about this service, please ask your doctor or team member to refer you.
The Dietitian…
is able to meet with you, your family, and /or caregivers to talk about nutrition as part of a healthy lifestyle during and after your rehabilitation. If you have specific needs arising from a medical condition or cultural/religious preferences the dietitian can assist you with making appropriate menu selections. A referral to the dietitian may be made by any one of your team members.
The Teacher…
will help you with your school course work, test your academic skills and give learning help. Your counsellor and subject teachers at your home school will help plan your return to school. The teacher and other members of your team may go to your school to meet with your teachers and friends and teach them about your disability and how it might affect you at school. The GF Strong School Program takes students up to the age of 19 who have not yet graduated from high school
The Vocational Rehab Counsellor…
will help you develop a training or a return-to-work plan. This may involve assessing your skills, attitudes, interests, personal likes and needs. The counsellors also help with job searching, employer relations, job accommodation, advocacy and contact with community-based agencies
The Music Therapist…
is available to patients on the Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Program and Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Team. You do not have to be a musician to benefit from music treatment. Music may help you achieve your rehab goals. You can choose to listen and relax to music, sing, play instruments and/or write songs. If you would like to see a music therapist, ask one of your team members to refer you.
The Alcohol and Drug Counsellor…
offers support, education and counselling to help patients, family members and friends dealing with alcohol and/or recreational drug difficulties. S/he can explain not only how substance use will fit in with the many changes that have brought you to GF Strong but also help those seeking a fresh start and a road map to become free of the habit. If you would like to find out more, ask one of your team members to refer you.
The Peer Mentor (spinal cord program)…
is a person with a spinal cord injury who looks at all aspects of your rehab from a user's perspective. He will assist you in dealing with physical, social and emotional issues that may arise. The peer mentor is there to help you and your family with education, problem solving, coping, and adjusting to living with a spinal cord injury.