The Lyon Browning
LADDEHR Project
Leading Adults with Developmental Disabilities to Equitable Health Results.
An opportunity for everyone
We want the best care possible for all Albertans; however, not all people are the same when they present to a medical location. Compared to the general population, adults with developmental disabilities and cognitive impairments are more likely to:
Present in the Emergency Room
Individuals with developmental disabilities may rely more on the emergency room due to limited access to timely primary care, difficulty securing same-day appointments, transportation barriers, or challenges navigating the healthcare system. Communication differences can also make it harder to describe symptoms early, which can result in conditions escalating before care is sought.
Return Repetatively for the same issue
Repeat ER visits for the same concern often occur when discharge instructions are not fully understood, follow-up appointments are difficult to coordinate, or community supports are insufficient to manage ongoing health conditions. If care plans are not adapted to the person’s communication style or cognitive needs, underlying issues may remain unresolved.
Have preventable hospitalizations
Preventable hospitalizations can occur when individuals experience gaps in preventative care, limited health literacy supports, or difficulty identifying and reporting early symptoms. Chronic conditions may worsen without proactive monitoring, especially when primary care systems are not designed to provide tailored, accessible interventions.
have repeat hospitalizations
Repeat hospitalizations may happen when transitions from hospital to home are not well-coordinated, supports are inconsistent, or environmental and social determinants of health are not addressed. Without integrated care planning between hospital teams, caregivers, and community providers, individuals may struggle to maintain stability after discharge.
SUBHEADING
Our LADDEHR Neighbourhood
The LADDEHR Neighbourhood is a place where individuals with developmental disabilities can receive timely access, continuity, and wraparound support, particularly during early operation. Much like how a neighbourhood is a community within a city, the LADDEHR project is a community within the greater healthcare system. One that has an identity and emphasizes an active, relational care environment.
In this neighbourhood, Key services have been identified as:
- Rapid access and same-day appointments, including after-hours and overnight on-call coverage
- Multi disciplinary team-based care, including family physicians, pediatricians, specialists, nurse practitioners, nurse navigators, social work, and allied health (PT/OT)
- Continuity of care, allowing patients to return to the same team and build trusted relationships
- Care navigation and follow-up, including proactive phone or virtual follow-up after emergency department visits
- Respite and caregiver support, ideally linked directly to the clinic to maintain trust
- Virtual care options, including video visits, messaging, and “hospital-at-home” style supports
- Strong linkages to Primary Care Networks (PCNs) to support coordination beyond the clinic
The adult population we are concerned with requires services like those provided to children at specialized children’s hospitals; services that this population transitioned from as they became adults. These locations are uniquely tailored to the specific needs of sick children who may require emergency care or primary acute and post-surgical care and beyond.
There is a need for a similar centre, but tailored to the needs of adults with intellectual impairment and developmental disabilities; that is where our LADDEHR Neighbourhood comes in. This neighbourhood would provide adjusted approaches specific for individuals with developmental disabilities, including supports for the communication and behaviour challenges that accompany these individuals.
A centre such as this would have numerous benefits to our already taxed health care system including a reduction in missed diagnosis and a reduction in points of contact, ultimately improving the care for these individuals while reducing costs, hospital wait times and stress on the overall system.
The LADDEHR project is endorsed by the Excel Society and supported by Dr. Alf Conradi and Dr. Larry Ohlhauser. It requires the support of organizations and other individuals that can offer the expertise required to see this project to reality.
If you are interested in being a part of this Steering Committee, please contact Tamara Browning at 780-966-4007 or email us at laddehr@excelsociety.org.
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info@excelsociety.org
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