I’m pretty sure writing this is going to get me blacklisted somewhere.
This was an interesting one: Sherbourne’s Acute Respite Care (ARC) Program.
If you’ve read about my situation, then you know I’m still recovering from surgery. In fact, constantly having to move around because of my homelessness has put me in a situation where I’m neglecting my daily post-op recovery care and has subsequently led to me having to go to the Emergency Room at least once a month.
So when I came across the ARC program, it seemed like I found an answer to my prayers: A hospital that offers a place to recover from surgery if you’re dealing with homelessness. Sounds exactly like what I needed!
But, no. It’s far from that, if not hopelessly idealistic.
Sherbourne’s Acute Respite Care (ARC) Program is a short-term health care unit offering 24/7 care for individuals ages 16 and older who are experiencing homelessness, under-housed and/or socially isolated who need a safe place to recuperate from an acute medical condition, illness, injury or surgery. [Source: Sherbourne.on.ca]
It looked very promising for my exact situation so I got my nurse practitioner in Sudbury to refer me there immediately.
However, the following week I was told I wouldn’t be accepted.
Why? My condition didn’t qualify me for the program because I was at the stage of my post-op recovery where I would be sent home.
Wait…what?
You’re telling me that your program that’s supposed to help with post-op patients who are homeless, you send them “home”, after a few weeks following their surgery??
Because it sounds to me like you dump vulnerable individuals on the streets afterwards.
Whoa whoa! PinkSuitcaseGirl, that’s pretty serious of you to say!
Oh yeah, I’ve been wanting to talk about the ARC program for a good hot minute, so let’s explain what’s going on here.
The key word here is ACUTE, meaning short term.
Acute care is when a patient receives immediate and short-term treatment for any critical or life-threatening injury, illness, and disease. It is the complete opposite of long-term inpatient treatment of chronic care services. [Source: Emergency Hospitals Systems]
The ARC program isn’t designed for long-term use. That’s pretty understandable, but I have a very big issue with how this program is being handled as a homeless post-op trans person.
First off, the important disclaimer: I don’t know the inner workings of the ARC program. I only know what I’ve been able to understand over the phone and from their website. Any new information I learn hereafter, I will update this article as needed, or post a follow-up.
Now let’s go over what I learned:
The hospital is heavily booked.
When I called, there weren’t any available spots for months. Meaning, you have to let them know your situation pretty early in advance.
The problem there? If you’re suddenly homeless like me, you are SHIT OUT OF LUCK.
Patients from Toronto are given priority.
Which is fair, considering the location of the hospital. But I can’t help but feel like patients who wanted to have their surgery done by the credible surgeons in Montreal, are being punished for that choice here.
However, if you’re experiencing housing issues, you’re most likely not going to be in a good situation to go to another province. But then again, I wouldn’t fault someone for being determined to make that happen.
After you can start doing the post-op care on your own, you’re discharged.
Bye bye! Send in the next patient!
Yeah, you’re essentially discharged to a shelter or whatever.
And what do you do even though you can’t do that kind of post-op care in a shelter because of the privacy and equipment you need in that situation, you say?
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I hope you didn’t get the vaginoplasty with the cavity done because the ARC nurse I talked to over the phone didn’t even seem to know.
I’m talking with the convalescence home in Montreal right now in regards to how to deal with my post-op care with the homelessness situation I’m in. And if they, with their experience, can only give me their best advice, then I assure you the ARC program barely knows what to do either.
Yes, when my nurse practitioner was looking through the referral with me, she did say they do tell you that you should plan for where you’re going after staying with them, but considering their goal is to help address a situation like mine, I am shocked they were as unhelpful as they were.
I really want to know people’s experiences with the program. I’m not surprised there’s not even reviews on Google Maps given how underreported a situation like mine is.
Send me an email at pinksuitcasesuvivor@gmail.com or comment on the article below.
Remember: Anyone getting surgery done is usually someone who is already well-housed and capable to undergo it. After all, part of the process is that your mental and physical state needs to be accessed by other doctors first before surgery is done on you.
I would not have gone through with my surgery at all if there was even a hint early on of my ex dumping me on my ass with their ex-wife as they did.
Recommendation: UNHELPFUL
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