Health station provides help for midtown's young and old

[attach]4312[/attach]If you are a senior needing home visits for exercise and health care then the services of the Anne Johnston Health Station can help you. This community healthcare hub has a Seniors Home Health Program with health practitioners visiting seniors in their homes to provide opportunities for gentle exercise, preventative care and educational health workshops.

If you are a youth (ages 13–26) looking for programs and services in reproductive health, nutrition or counselling, you can visit the health station.

These are only a few examples of the excellent resources that the Anne Johnston Health Station provides to the community. The catchment area for most of their services is Bloor Street to Hwy 401 and Bathurst Street to Bayview Avenue. Its location is the former Montgomery Avenue Police Station, a historic building constructed in the 1930s.

On April 28, I had the opportunity to attend an event to celebrate the hard work of volunteers. I congratulate everyone at the Anne Johnston Health Station for the quality of care they provide in the community, their strong advocacy for health promotion and their incredible team of local volunteers.

Since 1992, this caring and accessible community health centre has serviced the neighbourhood, as one of over 100 such centres across the province. All services provided by this non-profit centre are confidential and free of charge. The health station is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care.

The Anne Johnston Health Station provides primary care, disease prevention and health promotion. Community development is also a key part of their work and through outreach initiatives, they also advocate for the education, employment, transportation and health needs of the local community.

Programs and services include access to physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, counsellors, health promoters, chiropodists, pharmacists, occupational therapists, attendant care and dietitians. Toronto Public Health also runs a dental clinic out of the lower level of the building, making this neighbourhood hub a one-stop spot for community care.

Another special program is their Mid-Toronto Diabetes Education Program, where patients can access dietitians and nurses for ongoing care to manage their diseases.

The health station is also a part of the Toronto Dementia Network, helping residents of the service area that are suffering from conditions like Alzheimer’s disease. Their specialized services include counselling, personal safety advice and ongoing management.
In the station building, an adult day program for seniors is run by Senior Peoples’ Resources In North Toronto (SPRINT) offering daily care and recreation opportunities for seniors coping with disabilities and dementia. The SPRINT day programs run in the mornings, afternoons and on Saturdays.

The Anne Johnston Health Station works on the belief that illness prevention, health promotion and education lead to increased quality of life for everyone.

Their ability to provide accessible care for priority populations like youth, seniors and people living with physical disabilities makes this health centre an outstanding resource in the community.

For more information, please contact my office at: 416-781-2395, or at [email=mcolle.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org]mcolle.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org[/email].