Jessica Smith
A new Home Support program will provide 24-hour support for seniors who require additional care to remain in their homes. The Assisted Living program will help seniors at greatest risk for hospitalization or admission to a long-term care facility, and will be delivered by Atikokan Home Support, funded through the Northwest Local Health Integration Network.
Unlike Home Support’s regularly scheduled in-home support services which offer seniors a certain number of hours per week, the new program will provide flexible support and care seven days per week.
In addition, 24-hour emergency assistance will be available through the installation of Lifeline emergency phone system units in the residence. Through Lifeline, seniors will have after hours access to an Assisted Living support worker.
Routine care will include assistance with dressing and personal hygiene, mobility assistance, medication monitoring and homemaking services (housecleaning, laundry, meal preparation and shopping within the person’s home – including in seniors’ housing complexes.)
“Assisted Living should complement all in-home services provided in the Atikokan community, like Home Support services and CCAC contracted homemaking services, because it will provide flexibility rather than just scheduled visits,” said Home Support manager Brenda Wood who will oversee the new service.
“Currently, through regular in-home care and support services people are scheduled for a certain number of hours per week, and if they require extra hours, they can’t just phone and get them.” Through Assisted Living however, clients in need “could phone and get extra hours that day.”
Those enrolled in the AL program can still access professional services such as meals, adult day programs, transportation (escorts to appointments), respite services and extra homemaking. Each individual will be assessed by the CCAC to ensure they have met the criteria set out by the government for the Assisted Living program. After admission, individualized care plans will be determined by the client and the Home Support supervisor.
The program funds service delivery for seven client spaces in the community, and once spaces are filled, a waiting list will be kept based on the same eligibility priority.
Eligibility will be determined with priority given in the following order: those awaiting discharge from the hospital; community residents with a need for a higher level of care than provided by the Community Care Access Centre (CCAC) who would otherwise be at risk of hospitalization or admission to a long-term care facility; and individuals who frequently end up in the emergency department or admitted to hospital. Clients must live within Town limits and those with dementia or who require 24-hour nursing care won’t qualify.
Potential clients will be identified and referred by the CCAC, but also through referrals from hospitals, primary care providers, health professionals, family members, friends or support staff and volunteer workers. Application forms are also available at the Home Support office in the Fotheringham Court apartment building.
Clients will be regularly re-assessed to ensure their eligibility.
There is a nominal fee for the program to help offset costs such as Lifeline rentals, and extra services such as transportation, said Wood. Assisted Living services will be provided by two personal support workers covering nine hours per day, seven days per week, and after hours access for emergency purposes to a support worker through Life Line monitoring systems.
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