When Bill Moir looks at the walls of the Trillium Health Partners Queensway Health Centre — which will become The Gilgan Family Queensway Health Centre — he doesn’t just see bricks, mortar and glass. He sees a promise kept.
Ten years ago, inspired by the care his late wife Carol received, Bill and the Moir family made a $1 million donation to help establish The Moir Family Centre for Complex Continuing Care.
Today, as Trillium Health Partners prepares for a future with an aging population, the Centre stands as a blueprint for what patient-first health care actually looks like.
That future is arriving quickly.
Peel Region is one of Ontario’s fastest-growing communities. It is expected to see its older adult population grow by 74 per cent by 2046.
IMPACT BY THE NUMBERS
- 68 per cent of Trillium Health Partners patients who are 65 or older.
- 74 per cent is the projected increase in older adults in the Peel Region by 2046.
- 2017 is the year The Moir Family Centre for Complex Continuing Care opened, bridging the gap between acute hospital stays and returning home.
- $1 million gift by the Moir family helped turn a vision into a reality.
A Decade of Impact
A decade in, the results of this community investment are clear. "I’ve had the opportunity to visit The Moir Family Centre for Complex Continuing Care twice over the last six months or so," Moir says. "And what strikes me most is the response from the staff — so positive about the ward and grateful how it has been designed so as to give patients the most positive experience possible given the very difficult situations they are in."
Designing for Dignity
The layout of The Moir Family Centre for Complex Continuing Care encourages movement and social connection. Natural light floods every patient room and programming ranges from a knitting club to therapeutic recreation.
"I’m sure [patients’] families are exceedingly thankful for not only the physical surroundings, including the outdoor space, but the care provided by engaged and motivated staff," Moir reflects. "It would appear that after 10 years, the Centre is providing the patient-centred care that was envisioned in its development."
The Soul of the Ward
Physical space is only half the story; the other half is the people and the programming. Moir believes the environment at The Moir Family Centre for Complex Continuing Care serves as a catalyst for better care. "I believe the Centre will continue to be a good example of how physical space and enlightened programming can create a patient-first environment, one that has a positive impact on staff, patients and families," says Moir.
For Nicole Ashford, Clinical Manager, The Moir Family Centre for Complex Continuing Care, that vision comes to life through the everyday moments of connection between patients, families and care teams.
"Through the work of our interdisciplinary team, we support patients and families throughout their journey, focusing on what matters most to them," says Ashford. "The Moir Family Centre's design promotes both privacy and community, giving patients space for comfort and dignified care in private rooms while also allowing for connection with others in shared spaces."
Compassion in Action
For Ashford, the Centre's impact is best seen in the experiences of the patients and families it serves.
"Recently, we cared for a patient at the end of life, and what stood out to me was how our team worked together with the patient and their family to honour their wishes and help them remain in control of their final days," she says. "That's what makes Moir special: combining compassionate care, collaboration and a supportive environment to help each person live as fully and meaningfully as possible."
The experiences Ashford describes reflect the very philosophy that inspired the Moir family's gift a decade ago: creating a place where dignity, comfort and compassionate care remain at the centre of every patient's journey.
A New Kind of Health care
As Trillium Health Partners embarks on building the future of care, Bill Moir hopes his family’s contribution serves as a reminder that the future of medicine is about more than just technology — it’s about philosophy.
"The physical transformation of Trillium [Health Partners] is awe-inspiring," Bill says. "However, the build-out is wrapped around a vision of a ‘new kind of health care’ that will dramatically change how patient-centred health care is managed and delivered. It is not just a structural change, but equally important, a philosophical change."
To learn more about how Trillium Health Partners is shaping the future of care, visit trilliumhealthworks.ca.
Read the full Toronto Star article here: Transforming care for an aging population to learn how Trillium Health Partners is leading the way in delirium prevention and older adult care.
