Frequently Asked Questions

The main benefit that comes from in-home care is the ability to remain in your own home and maintain your independence.

Staying in familiar surroundings,  maintaining your friendships and the lifestyle to which you have become accustomed, avoiding the stresses involved with deciding where to move and when, then having to sell your home and all the associated headaches... not to mention the actual move!  These are but a few of the obvious advantages. Just maintaining the ability of rising when you want, or being able to keep your own pets and maintaining the routine you personally enjoy are also key.

Retirement residences differ enormously in what they offer. The quality of accommodation and services differs from place to place; and the cost varies accordingly.  They also provide a social environment that can have positive or negative results depending on the individual. More independent seniors tend to dislike not having a meal choice and having to eat in large groups. Although many retirement residences now offer personal caregiving and nursing assistance, it is often charged as an extra at a rate considerably higher than it would be for the same help at home.  Dollar for dollar, it is cheaper for you to have ElderSafe Support Services come into your home for a few hours a week to do that which you find difficult, than it is to live in a retirement home!

Should you decide that a retirement residence is the best option, ElderSafe Support Services can provide the information needed to make the best choice. Since we offer care to clients in both nursing and retirement homes, we are familiar with, many of the area residences and would be happy to help!

This is always a difficult situation, one that no one should have to face.  But...unfortunately we do.  It is always important to remember that we must, first and foremost, show them the honour and respect they deserve as they too have lived a life time,  and they must be allowed to choose.  With that in mind, there are ways that we can respect thier wishes, while using "gentle persuasion"...here are a few "suggestions"....

• If they say "I do not need any help" ...try gently pointing out those things they love to do but are no longer able to  pursue independently, without some assistance.  (like going out to play bridge, going shopping, choosing library books, etc.) Then suggest how much more pleasant  their quality of life would be with the minimal assistance that would allow them to continue doing the things they love and allowing them to stay in their home and maintain independence.

• If they say, "I want things done my way, I'm the only one who knows what I like to eat, do, buy etc." let them know that thier wishes are paramount and will always come first!  Our purpose is not to come in and change things.  It is to come in and keep things from changing...to "do what they want to".
• If they are adamant that they don't want a stranger in their house, allay their fears by staying with them for one or two visits while the caregiver is there, assure them that you will drop in to see how things are at different hours of the day(or night).
• When they say, "Absolutely not!", contact the home-care agency and request to arrange a visit or a phone call with another senior who is happy with their caregiver. Being able to witness a positive situation may help to make a decision.
• Although this may be difficult, try discussing the alternative... what would happen if they won't let anyone help. What would happen if you were not there to help them. (i.e. on vacation, illness, work)
• Start slowly introducing them to outside services. For example, make a last minute arrangement for someone to take them shopping or to the library. A kind and compassionate person coming into the home may earn trust and prepare them to be open to further assistance.
• You may also wish to consider hiring a geriatric-care manager or Certified Senior Advisor,  or the equivalent, who has the expertise to help your loved one understand the need for assistance.

Our priority is to assist you to maintain your independence, in your environment of choice,  for as long as possible....which means...we will do personal care, light housekeeping, light meal prep, caregiver relief, laundry, medication reminders, incidental transportation, companionship, personal activities, palliative care, dementia and Alzheimers care.

From the initial date of assessment, service can take as little as 24 -48 hours to commence. 

Keeping in mind that we at ElderSafe Support Services understand that each case must be considered individually and that special circumstances are always considered, we do request a minimum of 3 hours per visit .

Upon receiving a request/referral, either from yourself, an outside source such as CCAC, or from a Medical professional, we direct it to a Case Manager in your area who will contact you personally and arrange a free consultation and home assessment.  

Home-care costs vary depending on the needs of the individual, whether it’s live-in or live-out service, the duration of the visits, and the experience and qualifications required to meet specific needs.

When comparing rates for home care, it is important to do so on an ‘apples to apples’ basis. ElderSafe Support Services’ rates are competitive with every home-care agency in your area which provides accredited Personal Support Workers' (PSWs) who are experienced, legally entitled to work in Canada, covered under Workers' Compensation and fully insured against liability.   As well they are required to provide personal and professional references and undergo a vulnerable sector police background check.

Please feel free to contact us for a free estimate.

• The best laid plans can change in a heart beat,  and some times schedule changes can not be helped, and seeing that our philosophy is that your needs come first, schedule changes are easily accomplished with as little as a 24  hour's notice.

Our staff are fully insured for liability. All staff members are employees of ElderSafe Support Services, and are covered under Workers’ Compensation.  They have also undergone an extensive Vulnerable Sector police background  check and  are required to provide multiple work and personal references.

PSWs in Ontario, and CHW's in BC,  provide a range of health services in a variety of settings: long-term care facilities, adult-day programs, supportive housing, group homes, hospitals, educational facilities, private homes, etc.

Ontario’s PSW training program is a single program that consolidates and replaces the former health-care aide, home-support worker levels I, II, and III, personal-attendant and respite-worker training programs. The Government of Ontario approved the PSW program on April 28, 1997. The development of the PSW curriculum was a joint initiative of the Ontario Government and the Ontario Community Support Association.

PSW training is offered by Ontario community colleges, registered private-career colleges, adult education divisions of some Boards of Education and not-for-profit organizations. All organizations providing this training base their programs on the document “Personal Support Worker Training: Outcomes and Module Outlines” which is published by the Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA). This full-time course runs approximately 20-24 weeks depending on the institution. PSW certificates are issued by the training institution.

The PSW training is arranged in modules with two official exit points:

Personal Attendant or Health Care worker – Completion of the first seven modules, responds to the needs of Community care workers and the client/consumers they serve who wish to be active in the directing their own care, and in training attendants to meet their individual needs.  Students who wish to confine their role to basic homemaking may also exit the program after the first seven modules.
Personal Support Worker – Completion of the entire program (14 modules), responds to the needs of the workers who require the full range of training to work with clients who have a wide variety of individual needs and varying degrees of ability to direct their services.

The way ElderSafe Support Services selects its caregivers represents the difference between our agency and most others.

We are a large organization and have the ability and time to carefully select and screen each potential caregiver.

For each individual that applies for a position with ElderSafe Support Services, the Case Managers conduct an indepth interview.  A specific tool, designed to test the ability and general knowledge as well as experience of the individual is used.  As a minimum, our caregivers are required to be accredited Personal Support Workers (PSW’s), or Community Care workers with experience in Elder care.

Potential candidates are expected to provide at least two references, personal and professional,  that we check thoroughly. These references are typically from  nursing homes, retirement homes, hospitals and/or volunteer organizations. We also insist that each and every caregiver provides us with a Vulnerable Sector Police Clearance Certificate (a background check completed by the Police). This is Non-Negotiable.

In addition to a strong educational and employment history, we also insist that our employees have caring personalities and a desire to help people. This is what sets our agency apart.

Lastly, we encourage our clients to openly discuss their feelings regarding their care givers, so we can ensure the right fit of client and worker. 

Life happens to the best of us, therefore we need to understand that there will be times when changes are inevitable.  That being said, we do recognize and understand the need and importance to most care recipients (and their families) to maintain consistency in caregivers.  Therefore, we will attempt to assign a primary caregiver and regular substitute should they be unavailable. 

Our caregivers come from a wide variety of backgrounds and are culturaly diverse.   Many speak a second and third language, and we do our best to match clients with appropriate workers.  We encourage families to let us know about their cultural preferences so that we can introduce caregiver candidates who are compatible.

The rules differ depending on an individual’s specific circumstance. In some cases, you may be eligible to recover all or a portion of care-giving costs.

To see if you qualify under the “dependent” rules set forth by The Canada Revenue Agency, go to:   www.cra.gc.ca

The Canada Revenue Agency has policies and information relative to amounts paid for full-time care. There are also provisions for mental or physical infirmity (if the person is likely to be dependent on others for his or her personal needs), and care for the long-term when the need for a full-time attendant has been certified in a letter from a medical practitioner.

ElderSafe Support Services is an approved and registered provider with Veteran’s Affairs Canada.

See their website, www.vac-acc.gc.ca/ , which provides complete information about veteran's benefits.

There are many associations and foundations devoted to education, prevention, treatment and resources on a range of illnesses, diseases and medical conditions.

Check out these sites for information to help answer some of your questions, both are well known and trusted sites.

  www.webmd.com  or  www.merck.com

We at ElderSafe are here to help. Being in the business, we know of a variety of government and not-for-profit agencies that can provide help depending on your circumstances. Community Care Access Centers, Community Service Centres, Meals on Wheels and our very own, Saint Elizabeth Health Care Foundation. As well, there are a variety of injury- and illness-specific associations. 

Here are a few links to help you on your way.

www.saintelizabeth.com

www.senioropolis.com

www.meals-on-wheels.com

www.caretoknow.org/buildingbridges

When the need arises, we will be there 24/7.  ElderSafe Support Services understands that there is a need and has created a special rate for those requiring around-the-clock care.  Please call us for a free quote!

Yes. People sometimes discover that independent assistance provided in nursing or retirement homes allows the care recipient to remain more independent. Additionally, families of care recipients find that caregivers from an outside agency can offer a subjective and unbiased overview of the home’s operation. Families are usually very appreciative of the additional ‘eyes and ears’ that are present on their behalf. They are also comforted by the fact that their loved one has a dedicated caregiver.

Depending on your provider, we can bill directly (if approved) or we can help you to submit your claim.

Long-Term Care Facilities or Homes for the Aged or Nursing Homes

They are designed to help elderly persons who require 24-hour assistance. In Ontario, Long-Term Care Facilities are licensed, regulated and funded by the provincial government. They can be not-for-profit or for-profit. There are three types of ownership: private for profit & not-for-profit, charitable and municipal. The Government regulates resident care and contributes funding for nursing, programs, activities, and the dietary needs of a resident. Residents in a Long-Term Care Facility are responsible for the accommodation portion of their daily rate, which may be subsidized, depending on their financial circumstances.

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care can adjust the cost of accommodation. However, the existing per diem has been in effect since the Long-Term Care Facilities Act came about in 1994. One should always check that a Long-Term Care Facility has been regularly inspected and request to see documentation to that effect. To apply for accommodation in a Long-Term Care facility, you must contact your local Community Care Access Centre (CCAC).

Not-for-Profit Long-Term Care Facilities

These are those owned by municipal governments, charities, and private not-for-profits which are not charities. They fall under the same Ministry of Health & Long-Term Care regulations, classification and program standards and use the same funding formula as for-profit. Not-for-profit providers that generate a surplus re-invest these monies to enhance or increase the level of service provided to residents. Although for-profit and not-for-profit come under the same Ontario Provincial Ministry of Housing (MOH) legislation, they each have different Acts that govern them. They are: The Nursing Home Act; The Charitable Home Act; The Municipal Homes for the Aged Act. You don’t need to be 65 years and older to get into them. You must be 18 years of age or older and have health care coverage.

Homes for the Aged

These are an example of Not-for-Profit Long-Term Care Facilities as are charitable homes for the aged regulated under the Charitable Institutions Act.

Residential Retirement Homes / Communities

These offer independent living usually in an apartment-type condominium, or house, where community amenities are geared towards retirement living.

Assisted Living

These are for seniors who require assistance with the activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, personal hygiene and medication monitoring.

Care Homes / Residences

Offer health care services and assistance with the activities of daily living only.

Continuum of Care Facilities

These facilities recognize the need to provide many levels of care to those with progressive disabilities so residents are not required to move as their condition deteriorates. These facilities provide a “Continuum of Care” with separate wings, floors, rental, supportive and/or life-lease housing catering to specific requirements. Some of these facilities have secure floors for those suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s.

Palliative Care (or End of Life Care)

May be provided in hospitals, hospices, and some Long-Term Care Facilities. Palliative care may also be provided at home with private care or publicly funded care delivered through local CCAC.

Complex Continuing Care (formerly known as “Chronic Care”)

Refers to ongoing, high-level, medical attention in a hospital-like setting. Some Long-Term Care Facilities provide this. Generally this type of care is provided to an individual with a lasting condition that may often be severe.