Residential long term living

For some individuals with an acquired brain injury, long term living choices outside of the family home require careful and often lengthy consideration. Choosing an environment that meets your needs can be difficult, and sometimes choices can be limited. Often times, choices for long term living environments tend to be institutional by design and for the client, living out their lives in an institutional setting was never envisioned.

At The Phoenix Network, we offer non-institutional, Supported Independent Living environments for individuals who are no longer able to remain in the family home. We very deliberately chose homes which duplicate natural living environments for our clients because it is our belief that people do better and feel more comfortable, if the home they live in feels like home. Having a natural setting that offers the neurobehavioral supports necessary for the acquired brain injury client to live safely and securely can have a tremendous impact on their over all well-being. In turn, the same 'peace of mind' experienced by the client, is also experienced by their family and friends who are trusting us to care for their loved ones.

Long term living provides our clients with a safe, secure, predictable and supportive environment that encourages and promotes the goals of the client. Staffing is tailored to meet actual needs of the client as the setting fosters independence and individuality.

We believe in quality, not quantity. Therefore, the quality of life experienced by our clients is of the utmost importance to us. Presently, long term living options are offered to clients through our inpatient Supported Independent Living Program, and as well, through our Satelitte Apartment Program. Our homes are large and offer clients ample shared living space access throughout all main house areas. Bedrooms are private, with no shared rooms available as we recognize the need for privacy in an otherwise shared setting, is extremely important to the clients who live with us. Ultimately, our goal in providing long term living opportunities to our clients is to make them feel 'at home'.

Outside of our single occupancy apartments, we have three homes, all of which are next door to each other in a community offering all of the necessary amenities. Our first home is a five bedroom home which offers long term living to a maximum of four clients. The fifth bedroom is typically used for short term respite services or is used by family and friends who may wish to spend some time in program with their loved ones. Our second and third homes are two bedroom units, with a maximum capacity of two clients per house. As with our first home, shared common area access is spacious, and both bedrooms in these two units are large. Family (including young children) and friends are welcome to visit at anytime.

Currently, some of our clients have young children and we are able to provide them with assistance with supervised child visits, which can include overnight and weekend stays for the children. Maintaining the integrity of the family unit (albeit redefined) remains an important goal for all of our clients.

All of our long term living programs are clinically supervised so as to ensure all goals set by the client are being worked on in a therapeutic manner. Even though therapy has typically ended once a person accesses long term living, there is still a need to set goals that are both productive and meaningful to the client. Neurobehavioural Life Skills Counsellors provide the direct staffing supports within these settings and have expertise specific to meeting the care needs of someone with an acquired brain injury. Because all of our clients are wonderfully unique individuals with goals that differ, one from the other, staffing needs are assessed on a one to one basis and, wherever possible, we strive to meet the individual needs of the client. For us, helping our clients to maintain their individuality, while promoting and maintaining independence and living life with integrity, hope and grace is after all, what it's all about.

If you have any questions regarding our Long Term Living program, or if you require additional information, or would like to make a referral, please contact

Suzanne Kingsley
Admission, Treatment and Discharge Coordinator
The Phoenix Network
2450 Lancaster Road, Unit 36
Ottawa, Ontario
K1B 5N3

Telephone: (613) 733- 6313 Extension 100
Fax: (613) 733- 7093