Baycrest

14 BrainMatters FALL/WINTER 2019 THE POWER OF GIVING impacts rehab patients and the wider community M uch of what is accomplished at Baycrest would not be possible without the generosity of donors. Through every facet of the organization, their gifts – large and small – are instrumental in helping the staff provide top-notch care, conduct groundbreaking research, educate the next generation and innovate to make the world a better place for older adults. "Home sweet home" is an underlying theme of the gifts described here. State-of-the-art rehab space helps patients achieve their goals and return to their homes in the community while an inspiring new initiative harnesses technology to help people age in their own homes for as long as possible. MOTIVATION, REHAB AND RECOVERY Charlotte and Lewis Steinberg, who donated a new rehab floor at Baycrest, say their spirit of philanthropy stems from the example of their parents. The couple first met in the Laurentians when they were counsellors at summer camps for underprivileged children. Lewis recalls that his father saw ice being hauled to keep the camp food cold, then got nine friends to pitch in and help him buy a walk-in cooler for the camp. The couple's Baycrest project benefits people at the other end of the age spectrum: older adults who are regaining movement and mobility after injuries, surgery and various illnesses. The new Charlotte and Lewis Steinberg Family Rehabilitation Wing occupies the entire seventh floor of the hospital, bringing together "slow-stream" and "high-tolerance" units that were previously on separate floors. Now, the teams of physiotherapists, occupational therapists and their assistants can collaborate more easily in a spacious gym and share resources to improve patient care. It means a lot to the Steinbergs, who have been married for 60 years, to see a major project like this completed in their lifetime and to see an immediate impact on patients. "I was an x-ray technician, so I know broken bones," says Charlotte, referring to her early career at Montreal's Jewish General Hospital that has added to her passion for rehabilitation. The multimillion-dollar gift allowed Baycrest to do a necessary makeover of the east side of the floor of the 1980s-era building followed by a revitalization of the west side. Sylvia Davidson, Hospital Manager, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Therapeutic Recreation, says the new space is fresh, modern, light and motivating for everyone – patients, families and staff. The patient dining room has an unobstructed view of downtown, including the CN Tower. "Being able to look out over the city is actually stimulating for people. We can use it as part of our therapy and orient them to the street," she said. "It's a way of reconnecting them to the community, and even on a gloomy day – all together in this open bright space – it's made a huge difference," says Davidson. A new "activities of daily living" suite helps patients learn the adjustments they will need to make when they are discharged home. Lewis and Charlotte Steinberg

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