Centre of Excellence
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Introduction to the Centre of Excellence in Frailty-Informed Care™ (CoE)
Established in 2019, Perley Health Centre of Excellence in Frailty-Informed Care™ aims to set a new benchmark in seniors' care, facilitating applied research that fuels innovation in education, best practices, and knowledge translation. Our goal is to ensure Seniors and Veterans living with frailty receive the highest level of care both within our walls and beyond. The CoE is part of Perley Health, a unique and innovative community of care located on a 25-acre campus adjacent to The Ottawa Hospital. Perley Health is home to approximately 450 residents (many of them Veterans who served overseas) in long-term care, along with approximately 200 seniors in 139 independent-living apartments. Funded by donations to the Perley Health Foundation, the CoE supports Perley Health's mission of excellence in the health, safety and well-being of Seniors and Veterans.
(Hon) Commodore (Ret'd), Dr. HW Jung, OMM, CD, QHP, CStJ, MD, MA, FRCPSC introduces the Centre of Excellence.
Despite the growing threat posed by frailty, healthcare systems across Canada are ill prepared. According to CFN: “No care setting in Canada currently identifies and assesses frailty as standard clinical practice.” In 2018, CFN and The National Institute on Ageing (NIA) published a report documenting a lack of consensus on how to measure and manage frailty. The Centre of Excellence in Frailty-Informed Care will fill these gaps by conducting clinical research and by developing evidence-based best practices in care.
What is frailty?
Frailty is a state of increased vulnerability, with reduced physical reserve and loss of function across multiple body systems. This reduces ability to cope with normal or minor stress, which can cause rapid and dramatic changes in health.
- Canadian Frailty Network
Vision
To be the leading provider, educator and innovator in frailty-informed care for seniors in Canada.
Mission
Through innovative, evidence-based care, education and research, we will optimize quality of life for seniors living with frailty in long-term care.
In 2021, Commissionaires Ottawa — Canada's largest employer of former Canadian Forces personnel — donated $2 million to the Centre of Excellence. In recognition of the gift, the title of research chair is known as the Commissionaires Ottawa Research Chair of the Centre of Excellence in Frailty-Informed Care. The position is currently held by Dr. Annie Robitaille, an Associate Professor at the University of Ottawa's Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences.
Recognizing the urgency of addressing care for Seniors and Veterans' living with frailty, Perley Health established Canada's first Centre of Excellence in Frailty-Informed Care™.
Perley Health will deliver on its vision in three ways:
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Rapidly advancing the care of seniors living with frailty through applied research.
First, research priorities are chosen based on their abilities to make meaningful contributions to care at Perley Health and beyond. -
Knowledge transfer of lessons learned so that others can adopt best practices.
Second, evidence-based practices will drive widespread knowledge-transfer and education in clinical care. -
Becoming Canada's leader for excellence in the care of seniors living with frailty.
Finally, Perley Health will be contributing to and influencing government policies to achieve excellence in caring for Seniors and Veterans living with frailty.