For Home & Community Care Services in Ontario please click here.
Home Care
People have always provided some form of care for each other: for those who are ill, disabled or frail, people who, for whatever reason, need help to manage the activities of daily living. Religious organizations have helped to make it possible for some people with disability to live at home. Even today over 80% of help in Canada is provided informally in this way.
The need for home care is increasing.Generally people are living longer and thus experience more chronic illness. More than ever, families are dispersed. Provincial Governments began, in the late ‘60’s to make small grants to facilitate the work of voluntary sector agencies. It is these agencies that first developed formal home care. Since then Government participation has increased and home health care has become an important ingredient in the health care mix. Now about 40+ years later, there is, in Toronto an array of home and community based health and social services potentially available, as needed. For some, depending on need, (eligibility) there is no charge. In other situations subsidies are available.
At Care Watch we believe that this care must be:
ACCESSIBLE: There should be NO barriers to care – no waiting lists – and the delivery of one service not dependent on receiving another (i.e. having a bath to get other care)
AFFORDABLE: There should be no charge for required care.
APPROPRIATE: Meeting care needs as defined by the recipient and/or informal caregiver. – Always respecting the culture and language and personality of the recipient.
CONSISTENT: Care must be delivered by the same worker and organization. This is especially important for older people who suffer from mental illness or dementia.
For further information about home care please click here. If you wish to access home care, Community Care Access Centres, (CCAC) which provide home care and other services can be reached directly at www.ccac-ont.ca or by dialing 310-CCAC(2222) – 7 days a week.
Community Programs
Much has been made lately about aging and the challenges it presents to individuals and to society. Clearly the number of “senior years” is increasing for most individuals. Largely, these are good years, as responsibilities diminish and there is more time and energy to pursue special interests and new ideas. “Young seniors” often have retirement plans that include existing social networks. As aging continues, these networks tend to fade away. Other losses occur as well. A variety of community programs which emphasize social, physical, recreational, educational and fun activities help to ward off isolation and enhance a sense of well being.
A number of Community Agencies and organizations offer programs for older adults that promote a positive quality of life, independence, self fulfillment, community participation and leadership. Some of these are: adult day care, community dining clubs, friendly visiting and security checks, home repairs, snow removal, respite care, social support groups, transportation, foot care and more.
To find out where you can access these services please click here or log on to www.211Toronto.ca or www.toronto.communitycareresources.ca. By phone just dial 211 or call 416-506-9888 or toll free 866-243-0061
The work we do at Care Watch tries to ensure that quality home care and community programs are in place for older adults. We do this through:
- Direct contact with Provincial and City politicians and officials
- Speaking engagements in the community
- Attendance at conferences, forums and think tanks
- Surveys & studies
- Our Newsletter
- Sponsoring periodic public meetings