Programs such as group exercise, art, and music therapy encourage social engagement and physical activity.
Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital (TDMH) has launched a new Transitional Care Unit (TCU) to improve patient flow and recovery.
The 12-bed unit opened April 1, 2025, to support Alternate Level of Care–Long Term Care (ALC-LTC) patients who are waiting for placement but are not ready to return home safely.
The TCU provides nursing, personal support, physiotherapy, recreational therapy, and medical oversight in a homelike setting with social spaces and daily activities.
Each patient receives an individualized treatment plan and restorative care that promotes mobility, independence, and cognitive health.
Programs such as group exercise, art, and music therapy encourage social engagement and physical activity.
Early results show the unit is reducing emergency department backlogs, lowering inpatient occupancy, and helping some patients regain enough independence to move to retirement residences or back home instead of long-term care. Supported by Ontario funding and the TDMH Foundation, the TCU highlights how rural hospitals can create innovative care models that deliver high-quality outcomes at lower costs.
