Leaving the Hospital
At Baycrest, our care teams work closely with patients and their families or caregivers to make sure they have all the information and support they need before leaving the hospital.
Planning for discharge
If you have been admitted to Baycrest as a patient in our hospital, planning for your discharge begins well before you actually leave the hospital.
Your discharge date will depend on:
- Your personal medical needs
- The kind of support you need when you leave
- The availability of services or beds
How to prepare
To get ready for your discharge, talk to your care team to make sure you understand the following:
- When you might be discharged
- Where you will be going next
- If you need to arrange for support at home
- If you need to arrange for medical equipment
- What medications you need
- What transportation you need to arrange
- Any follow-up appointments you need to keep
Our care team will support you and your family or caregivers to ensure a smooth transition from the hospital.
Personal belongings after discharge
To make rooms available for new patients and residents, Baycrest has a policy for personal belongings left behind after discharge.
- Hospital rooms: Items not packed and removed within 12 hours will be packed and stored by staff.
- Long-term care rooms: Items not packed and removed with 48 hours will be packed and stored by staff.
Stored items are kept for up to two weeks. After that time, any items left behind will be removed.
Read the Baycrest policy for removal of personal belongings after discharge (PDF).
Alternate level of care (ALC)
Sometimes patients no longer need hospital-level care but still need to be in a place that can provide some support. This can include:
- Receiving home care services
- Retirement residences or assisted-living facilities
- A specialized unit in another hospital
- A long-term care home
In Ontario, when a patient is waiting to move to a place that will better meet their needs, they are designated as an ALC patient.
It is important to understand that staying at the Baycrest hospital does not mean you are already in long-term care or that you are guaranteed a bed in our long-term care facility.
Understanding long-term care (LTC)
Long-term care homes are for people who need ongoing nursing and personal care support. They are licensed and funded by the Ontario government.
Long-term care homes provide:
- Medical care
- Meals and housekeeping
- Recreation and social activities
To ensure there are hospital beds for those who need them, the More Beds Better Care Act of 2022 legislates that hospitals need to follow specific steps to streamline the process of moving ALC patients into long-term care homes.
If you are waiting for an LTC bed, this means:
- You will be asked to choose two LTC homes with an available bed or short wait list.
- If you do not choose, an LTC home will be chosen on your behalf, considering your needs and preferences.
- Patients who refuse an LTC bed or refuse to leave on their discharge day will be charged $400 per day.
Learn more about the More Beds, Better Care Act and moving to long-term care: