In July 2023, Debbie, a seventy-one-year-old retired nurse from Aurora, Ontario, slipped and fell while working in her garden. With great difficulty, she managed to get herself back into her home.
She experienced severe back pain after the fall, and after several days, it became unbearable. Debbie called an ambulance and was taken to Southlake Regional Health Centre (SRHC), where she was diagnosed with sciatica — pain running from the lower back down to her leg. She was prescribed painkillers and rest.
Joining the Remote Care Monitoring Program
Since she lives alone, Debbie was worried about returning home while on medication. Understanding her concern, her geriatric nurse practitioner at SRHC agreed to keep her overnight and suggested that Debbie consider enrolling in the Toronto Grace Health Centre’s Remote Care Monitoring (RCM) program.
Before returning home, Debbie registered for the program and received a pendant designed to monitor her for falls.
Support from the Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic
Because Debbie doesn’t have a primary care provider, the Toronto Grace’s nurse practitioner (NP)-led outpatient clinic, working closely with the RCM program, reached out to offer follow-up care.
“Reena, the nurse practitioner at the Toronto Grace NP-led outpatient clinic, has really taken good care of me,” says Debbie. “When I told my friends all that she’s done for me, they said she’s better than a doctor. I couldn’t have asked for a better person.”
Debbie has been under the NP’s care for over a year. She has virtual appointments or phone calls every few weeks, depending on her needs, and she can also email the NP between appointments if necessary.
Discovering New Health Challenges
According to Debbie, her nurse practitioner has been instrumental in managing her care — monitoring her medications, arranging tests, and making referrals to specialists.
“One of the first things Reena did was to send me to get blood work done. This is when I found out I had diabetes. Since my diagnosis, Reena has helped me monitor my medication and arranged for check-ups. Following one of those, I was diagnosed with diabetic neuropathy.”
Diabetic neuropathy most often damages the nerves in the legs and feet, causing numbness, weakness, and poor coordination — making walking difficult and driving unsafe.
Learning a Hard Lesson
In February 2025, during a virtual appointment, Reena noticed that Debbie was in pain.
“I told her that I’d tripped over one of my dog’s toys,” says Debbie. “Reena insisted I go to Emergency, and with my neighbour’s help, I went to SRHC. I was diagnosed with a hairline fracture on one of my ribs. I wasn’t wearing my RCM pendant when I fell so I couldn’t reach out immediately. I certainly won’t make that mistake again. I learned a valuable lesson.”
Looking Toward Better Days
The NP has also been working to help Debbie find a primary care provider, but it has been challenging due to her limited mobility. This has affected her ability to participate in the RCM program’s virtual exercise sessions, which she misses greatly.
She also misses taking part in the Naughty Knitters program at her local seniors’ centre — a group that raises money by selling handmade items. But what Debbie misses most is her family cottage, which has been in her family since the 1930s. She hasn’t been able to visit for the past two years.
Debbie is focusing on regaining her mobility. With her nurse practitioner’s continued support and careful medication management, she’s hopeful that this will be the year she finally returns to the cottage she loves.
Written by: Gerry Condotta