Admission
Welcome to The Sanctuary
We Can Help You Get Here
If you decide The Sanctuary Vancouver Island can help you, we can provide you with the support to make necessary arrangements to leave home, travel and safely arrive here, without any stress or worry. Travel support can include:
A member of The Sanctuary staff coming to you to help pack and manage your affairs prior to departure;
Assistance with travel arrangements including itineraries, travel bookings and any transfers required;
Arranging a travel companion to accompany you on your journey to The Sanctuary.
Your health and wellbeing is our priority, and we will endeavour to make the process of getting you here as effortless and seamless as possible.
Travelling for Treatment
Removing yourself from your usual environment to seek treatment can be beneficial in many ways:
To travel in pursuit of health and recovery is to literally affirm your desire and intention for positive change;
Travel generates an enthusiasm for new possibilities. The prospect of new landscapes, new people, new ideas and new hope will help motivate a renewed interest in life;
The process of treatment and recovery is greatly accelerated if you can remove yourself from the distractions and habits of your usual environment.
Getting to Vancouver Island
The Sanctuary Vancouver Island is serviced by two international airports - Victoria International Airport (YYJ) which is located on Vancouver Island, and Vancouver International Airport (YVR) which is on the mainland.
Both Airports accommodate private jet and private air charter flight facilities as well as commercial carriers. Arrivals into Vancouver International Airport will require a secondary internal domestic flight to Victoria which can be via either private jet, helicopter or commercial carrier ,or even a Vancouver harbour to Victoria harbour seaplane service.
You may make your own way from the airport to meet with us or if required, Sanctuary personnel will meet you in an unmarked vehicle upon your arrival and deliver you discretely to your private residence, already prepared for your admission.
If you are well known or high profile, additional security measures can also be arranged to ensure a discreet arrival.
Arrival
We appreciate that entering treatment can be harrowing and uncomfortable, particularly if you're feeling fragile, so we try to ensure you land softly.
On your first day, we make sure you are safe, comfortable and have enough space and time to acclimatise to your new surroundings.
Ideally you should plan to arrive at The Sanctuary late in the morning or during the early afternoon. This will allow ample time to complete admission procedures, any preliminary medical assessments, and for you to enjoy a massage and relax for the rest of the day.
If you need help to arrange connecting flights and transfers so you arrive at the recommended time, we will be only too pleased to assist you.
Generally your first day will unfold as follows:
You will be greeted by our Client Services liaison, your on-duty Registered Nurse and your own personal chef;
After completing some preliminary admission procedures, your nurse will conduct some basic observations: including blood pressure, temperature etc. Your nurse will stay with you for as long as necessary, but always at least for the next 12-24 hours to ensure you are well looked after during your first day;
You will then be shown around your 'sanctuary' - your own private, discreet, comfortable home;
We will help you unpack and settle in;
Lunch will be prepared and served by your personal chef;
Our doctor will arrive after lunch to conduct a more thorough medical assessment and to establish a clinical care plan for the following week. This is always under review alongside recommendations of other practitioners with your care plan responding to your changing needs.
To help you relax, we usually schedule a massage or bodywork session in the afternoon.
The rest of the day is at your leisure.
Dinner is usually served in the early evening.
If you are undergoing a detox, we ensure that we do our best to keep you calm, relaxed and pain-free. All withdrawal symptoms will be monitored and medication prescribed as required.
After dinner, you can listen to some music, watch some television, read, go for a walk, or just do nothing.
When you're ready to go to bed, we'll monitor your rest to make sure you're comfortable and safe throughout the night.
You will never be alone during this crucial settling-in stage as your nurse or personal support staff will always be on hand. All personal staff are carefully chosen for their genuine warmth and for their skill and experience in providing comforting care.