As Canada’s population ages, the need for specialized mental health care for older adults is more urgent than ever. At The Royal, that challenge is being met with best-in-Canada expertise, regional coordination, and a deep commitment to care.
The Royal has the highest concentration of geriatric psychiatrists in Canada — a team of 18 specialists who meet weekly to collaborate on care, share expertise, and ensure that older adults across the region get the right support, when and where they need it the most.
While inpatient services remain an important part of The Royal’s suite of services, much care is delivered out in the community — in people’s homes, long-term care facilities, retirement homes, and through partnerships with community hospitals, rural outreach programs, and agencies across Eastern Ontario.
This continuum of care requires advanced, thoughtful coordination across multiple systems and care partners.
“The priority of our program has always been the patient,” says Dr. Tim Lau, a clinical lead in the Geriatric Psychiatry Program at The Royal. “We aim to reach people early — before crisis hits — and deliver care that keeps them stable, safe, and well-supported in their own environments.”
A coordinated regional intake process makes it easier for patients and caregivers to access support quickly and consistently.