Community Support Services

Community Support Services

The Ministry of Health and Long Term Care has an outstanding website to visit. It outlines all of the potential issues that you may be required to deal with. Please visit:

 

Government of Ontario - Health Services in Your Community (Click)

 

Home Care

There are many circumstances where hospitalization or institutional care is not needed for a sick parent or parents. If this is the case then “home care” services should be explored. There are lots of options available and the extent of assistance will vary. If practical, family and friends may be able to provide the help that is required. If your parent’s needs do not place heavy demands on friend’s and family member’s time, then this may be the easiest solution. However, it may not be realistic in all scenarios. If this is the case, then outside help is required. Outlined below are some of the services that need to be considered. Check this website first for important information

Health Services in Your Community (Click)

Meals

Suppose your mother or father is quite capable of making breakfast, but is not quite up to the challenge of making lunch and/or dinner. Family and or friends may be able to do periodic shopping but this may become challenging because of schedules and proximity. A good solution would be to consider a community program such as “meals on wheels”. For a small cost, a meal can be delivered to their home.

Mobility

Can your parent/parents drive? To make walking easier, you may wish to get a disabled parking sticker. The Ministry of Transportation will issue the proper permit. Please visit this site for more information:

    Accessible Parking Permit (Click Here)

 

Home and Garden Care, Visiting and Monitoring

The grass is growing, the garden needs attention and your parent/parents want to stay at home. Family members can help out if schedules permit. A list of chores and responsibilities must be made detailing laundry, cleaning and outside maintenance (i.e. grass cutting and snow removal) schedules. If family and friends are unable to manage these things there may be local volunteer services available or may have to make arrangements with local companies that will require paying commercial rates which must be factored into the budget.

Live-in Assistance, Adult Day Care and Respite Care

Your parent’s condition may be such that they will require more constant care with an attendant in their home for most or all of the day. This will be a more expensive option. You should check to see if there are government agencies to assist you in finding and paying for in-home care. The relative costs of having your parent live in a residential facility would need to be considered as well as the emotional factors since many elderly people are attached to their homes and are very reluctant to move to a care facility. 

 

Please find below other websites you may find helpful:

Home and Community Care (Click)

Seniors Homecare Programs (Click)

 

Please contact us to find out more!

Barbara Reid's Wealth Management Team

Your personal Wealth Advisor in Hamilton, Ontario