Homewood Health Centre

A family member just attempted to contact Rural Wellington ACTT. It has been a struggle to get him to make the call and the Homewood was a great disappointment. The woman who answered (at 5:25hrs Jan 03.) was impatient, derisive and rude. She was clearly agitated when she could not find his file in the Homewood System" and she hung up on him. I was listening nearby and would not have let him be impolite. This was an unprofessional encounter with someone who should have some training in patient empathy."

I am a Female Canadian Veteran and very strong and the biggest problem here is there is too much therapy in a shortest amount of time, 2 months which normally would be 2 yrs of therapy anywhere else, it overwhelms the mind and can be devistating for alot of people, I was overloaded by the 6th week and became almost comatosed they couldnt wake me for several minutes. Which usually is too much memory overload reliving for most people, it has to be alot more carefully done, you also take in other peoples traumas during process groups which is extremely draining as well. Homewood is a life changing place to be though, you just have to be careful and reach out for help when you think you are overwhelmed, which I did but the Doctor ignored my plea's for 2 days. I never saw anyone here leave to go home worse off then when they arrived. It is very intense Therapy though, a daily grind and daily taking in other people's stories but the friendships made here are intense, real and are what makes this place great. Within a few weeks I saw all people go from feeling hopeless and giving up and not wanting to live another day to living again and hopeful for a better future. (Miracles happen here!!!), you see the transformation happens right in front of your eyes. I did the ptsd program 3 times to be able to finish it, its that hard and that intense, of course I had Severe ptsd as bad as it gets and only 20 per cent chance of making it, but still, it was a last hope for me according to my last Family Doctor. The second time I went my Father passed away and I didn't tell them that so it was harder for me. I wanted to finish the whole program successfully and graduate you know, it was that important to me to see this thing to the end. I am much healthier now and happy for the most part. When I tried to volunteer a few yrs later, they never returned my phone msgs so I was actually very disappointed about that but I did want to help others there, I was healed enough to actually make a difference there. But it wasn't meant to be. Anyway, over 10 yrs later and I am still here and getting stronger everyday thanks to this place. If I can make it, anyone can make it, you all matter, remember to never give up, no matter what. You r loved. And your life is so important, believe me, no one in the Universe can do what you can do, only you can do the things you do, you matter that much!!! Your life is everything and you must complete it no matter what. Just believe you can and you will. I believe in you, you got this and I love you all!!! good luck and full healing to each and everyone of you. You got this.

This place was hell. The only thing good was the food. Councilors like to act like bullies. The nurses wouldn't let me have the medication I brought in when I was discharged. It was sleeping pills prescribed by my doctor. Where did they go Homewood? i'm pretty sure this was a crime.I wanted help and most of them treated me like garbage and tried to dump us all off on AA or NA. DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY HERE.

Mental health program: I was able to learn a bit about what disorder I had (by sort of self diagnosing & letting them know what I thought it was) based on learning about different disorders there. Was able to learn some skills and it does have a lot to offer in regards of schedule, but easy withdrawals of the structure once you get out. I didn’t get any one on one therapy while there mostly just like classes & groups - which is a little surprising to me considering I figured daily you would have 1:1’s. Didn’t learn nearly as much as I paid to and nothing really changed or got figured out once I got out. I spent another two years with symptoms and pain before I found a great therapist who finally explain trauma to me, treated me properly and got me off all of the meds. I wish all of that was done there, but unfortunately it was not. Wasn’t the worst decision I made to go there. I did get some benefit, but for the amount it is, the duration of time you’re there and how much help I needed I just expected more. Finding a suitable therapist might be just as worth it.

I am writing a pre review with great eagerness and delight, for I am embarking on a journey that shall lead me to the tranquil and serene realm of Homewood Health. This place, I am told, is a sanctuary of healing for those beset by the torment of despair and madness that plagues the mind.Oh, how my heart flutters with excitement at the prospect of this journey! For far too long have I struggled with the tumultuous currents of my mind, buffeted by the storms of anxiety and the tempests of depression. But now, I sense a glimmer of hope, a ray of light that pierces through the gloom of my troubled soul.In Homewood Health, I shall find respite from the relentless waves of affliction that have hitherto battered me. Through the wise and skillful ministrations of the healers who dwell therein, I shall learn to master my thoughts and emotions, to guide them to a place of harmony and balanceDay 1 has been a great experience. The staff has set the tone with their warmth and compassionI’ll update my review during my 56 day time here.

I am currently a patient, half way through my 9 week stay. It was a 3 month wait to get in, which is typical for my program, as of 2022.Patients here are promised a personalized “treatment team” complete with a “lead nurse”. However, these terms, taken from their official pre-admission booklet, exist in name only.There is no singular team assigned to individual patients. Instead there is a hodgepodge of well intentioned professionals who are unable to effectively collaborate and stay properly informed on the individual needs of patients - lots of moving parts, no cohesive whole.Still, I don’t doubt this is probably the best inpatient mental health facility in the country. If not for this program, I’m not sure where patients could turn as a last resort. Patients may benefit greatly from Homewood if they ALREADY have the skill and will to constantly advocate for themselves.Unfortunately, many patients are here precisely DUE TO a lack of the necessary skill and will to constantly advocate for themselves to the extent necessary for sustainable health and wellness.As time passes, I know my perspectives on the care here will change, so I plan to add to this initial review.

I would sign up for M.A.I.D. (medical assistance in dying) than ever go back to the Homewood for their PTSD treatment program. The trauma I suffered while there for two months only added to the PTSD I was already suffering from to begin with.

Very confused with the bad reviews on here.You take out of homewood what you put in it.This review isn’t about select nursing staff or quality of food this is a REAL REVIEW.No doubt I am assuming Covid restrictions destroyed the programs because of virtual classes, etc. however it’s back on track now.The AMP(addiction medicine program) served me well. I got clean, sober and learned essential tools to help me stay sober. I even learned a lot about past traumas in my life and how to deal with them. Now it is up to me to stay on the right path to a better life.One of the best decisions I have ever made was going to homewood. Then again I applied myself and got as much as possible out of it by focusing on why I was actually there. Recovery group therapy was great although so was my therapist (not everyone has the same therapist)The new friends/connections I made was an amazing take away as well.I do not have anything negative to comment on….if you are an addict or alcoholic and are considering homewood. Do it.

My work has decided to use them as a third party consultant for medial issues. Sounds good on the surface but I have had to deal with them twice about my mental health and both times I was denied for non medical reason". All I was asking for was to move from 5 days

Their snap “diagnosis” (read: misdiagnosis), refusal to treat, and constant pressure for me to quit or leave not only left me more symptomatic and hopeless (re-traumatized, etc.), it also precluded any hope of meaningful treatment from other providers moving forward. This place tried to kill me. They do the same to many others. There needs to be a review of staff and practices in this institution going back over the past 5 to ten years to see how many other people this was perpetrated against and who may still be alone and struggling with symptoms they may never be able to sort out alone. From a self-proclaimed “Canadian leader in mental health and addiction services,” this is beyond negligence or malpractice — it’s ideologically driven abuse.