Admissions & Intake Information
Oak Ridges Hospice is for individuals living with a life-limiting illness who are approaching the final stages of life. Admission is based on a number of factors, including care needs, medical status, and the ability to be supported in our residence.
Your journey to hospice care at Oak Ridges Hospice begins with a referral from a healthcare provider, typically in collaboration with your Most Responsible Physician (MRP). Once the referral is received, our Intake Coordinator will connect with you or your Substitute Decision Maker (SDM) within a few business days to review your care needs and determine next steps. If appropriate, a Suitability Assessment will be scheduled to ensure hospice care is the right fit and that your needs can be safely supported in our home-like environment. If you meet the criteria, a bed offer will be made based on availability and urgency. If not, you may be placed on our waitlist, with continued follow-up. Throughout this process, our team is here to answer questions and provide guidance every step of the way.
You may be ready for hospice care when:
- You have been diagnosed with a life-limiting diagnosis
- You are looking for comfort care, with no further investigations or treatments.
- You are spending most of your time in bed and sleeping
- You are eating and drinking very little
- You are dependent on others for your daily care
- Your healthcare team has told you that your prognosis is less than 2 months
Intake process FAQ’s
Who can make the referral?
Any healthcare provider involved in a person’s care can initiate a referral to Oak Ridges Hospice. However, all referrals must include involvement from the client’s Most Responsible Physician (MRP) (e.g., palliative or family physician) to help determine eligibility. We require direct MRP-to-MRP contact to support a smooth and appropriate transfer of care.
How do I make a referral?
To begin the referral process, your healthcare provider must complete the Oak Ridges Hospice Intake Form, available on our website. For urgent inquiries, call 289-225-0215 (Monday–Friday, business hours)
What happens after A referral has been made?
Once a referral is received, our Intake Coordinator will reach out to the client and/or their Substitute Decision Maker (SDM) or POA within 1 to 3 business days. They will review the referral to determine if a Suitability Assessment is needed. If the individual does not yet meet admission criteria, they may be placed on our waitlist, and the Intake Coordinator will remain in contact to monitor any changes.
What is a suitability assessment?
A Suitability Assessment is a one-on-one appointment between the Intake Coordinator and the client and/or their SDM or POA. These appointments last about one hour and are designed to ensure hospice care is the right fit.
During the assessment, we will:
- Review our philosophy of care
- Confirm eligibility criteria
- Identify care needs and safety considerations
- Answer any questions from the client, family, or caregivers
We will also ask to review:
- Power of Attorney documentation
- Health card
- Insurance and COVID-19 vaccination status (if applicable)
- All current medications (in their original containers)
What happens after a suitability assessment?
If the client meets hospice criteria, a bed offer will be made based on priority and availability. If the client is not yet eligible, they will remain on our waitlist, and we will continue to check in with their healthcare provider.
Bed offers & Wait List
Bed Offers are made to the referring healthcare provider once a client has completed the intake process and meets admission criteria. If a bed is not immediately available, eligible clients will be added to our waitlist and contacted when a bed becomes available.
We appreciate updates on changes in health status or if the client is transferred to another facility. Please call us at 289-225-0215 with any changes.
Learn more about life at Oak Ridges Hospice
At Oak Ridges Hospice, we offer compassionate, around-the-clock care in a warm, home-like setting for individuals nearing the end of life.
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