3.1 Community-Based Health Services

Community-based services, also referred to as “home care”, “home health care”, “in-home care” or “outreach services”, help seniors and persons with physical disabilities to live independently and remain in their homes for as long as possible.
These services are designed to provide visiting health services at home to people with a disability, illness or limitation due to aging who would otherwise need to go to or stay in a hospital.

There are many community support service agencies in Ontario. Service providers may be government agencies, municipalities, homes for the aged, charitable, not-for-profit groups and for-profit organizations. Support services provided might differ in each community and may include:

In-Home and Community Services – help you with day-to-day things around your home:

• Home Help/Homemaking
• Security Checks/Telephone Assurance Program
• Emergency Response Systems
• Intervention and Assistive Service
• Home Maintenance and Repair.
• Meals on Wheels
• Congregate Dining.

Community Services – helps connect you with friends or community programs:

• Adult Day Service
• Alzheimer Day Service
• Friendly Visiting
• Transportation to essential appointments
• Intergenerational Program
• Social and Recreational Services.

Health Services – get special help to you at home when ill, recovering, disabled or feeling the limits of aging:

• Personal Support Service
• Attendant Service
• Foot Care
• Alzheimer/Dementia Service Overnight Service
• Palliative Care
• Supportive Housing.

Caregiver Respite Services – help your caregivers through:

• Respite Service (In-home)
• Support and Counselling
• Training, information and education
• Volunteer Hospice Visiting Program.

The Long-Term Care Programs Branch within the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care provides for many community-based services. These services provide quality visiting health services at home to people who would otherwise need to go to or stay longer in hospitals and assists seniors and persons with physical disabilities to live independently and remain in their own homes for as long as possible. In-home health and support services are available in your community through the Community Care Access Centres (CCAC).

A CCAC case manager will recommend the most appropriate service(s) for you based on a thorough assessment of your needs. Some of those services may be covered under the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, regardless of your financial situation.

You can also contact a service provider directly to retain additional services, usually at your own cost. Subsidies may be available depending upon your financial situation and the individual service provider.

For more information on community based health services in your area, speak with your local CCAC or contact the following seniors’ service provider organizations:

Ontario Association of Non-Profit Homes and Services for Seniors

The Ontario Association of Non-Profit Homes and Services for Seniors (OANHSS) can provide information on not-for-profit long-term care facilities, housing and community services for seniors.

Ontario Association of Non-Profit Homes and Services for Seniors
7050 Weston Rd., Ste. 700
Woodbridge ON L4L 8G7

Phone: 905-851-8821
Fax: 905-851-0744
Website: www.oanhss.org

Ontario Community Support Association

The Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA) is the umbrella organization for more than 360 local health and social service agencies across Ontario.

Ontario Community Support Association
970 Lawrence Ave. W., Ste. 104
Toronto ON M6A 3B6

Toll-free: 1-800-267-6272
Phone: 416-256-3010
Fax: 416-256-3021
E-mail: ocsainfo@ocsa.on.ca
Website: www.ocsa.on.ca

Ontario Home Care Association

The Ontario Home Care Association (OHCA) represents organizations delivering a broad range of health and social care services to people across Ontario. Services are offered to people where they live and work - these settings can include the home, work places, schools, long-term care facilities, and acute care hospitals.

Ontario Home Care Association
P.O. Box 68018
Blakely RPO
Hamilton ON L8M 3M7

Phone: 905-543-9474
Fax: 905-545-1568
E-mail: suevan@homecareontario.ca
Website: www.homecareontario.ca

Victorian Order of Nurses

VON is a not-for-profit, national health care organization and registered charity offering a wide range of community health care solutions, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

VON Canada National Office
110 Argyle Ave
Ottawa ON K2P 1B4

Phone: (613) 233-5694
Fax: (613) 230-4376
E-mail: national@von.ca
Website: www.von.ca

Canadian Red Cross

The Canadian Red Cross provides in home community services to help individuals in Ontario live as independently as possible.

Canadian Red Cross National Office
170 Metcalfe St., Ste. 300
Ottawa, ON K2P 2P2

Phone: (613) 740-1900
Fax: (613) 740-1911
Email: feedback@redcross.ca
Website: www.redcross.ca

The Care Guide

"The CareGuide.com" is available online and in print, The Care Guide. A comprehensive directory of senior housing and care services, The Care Guide is a resource to help people navigate through the challenge of finding appropriate housing and care for themselves and/or their loved ones. Included are advice articles, tips, interactive needs assessment tools, as well as listings and direct links to community support and in-home care services, independent/supportive living, retirement residences, long-term care centres, assisted living, Alzheimer care providers and hospice care. Initially offered only online at www.TheCareGuide.com, The Care Guide is now also available, free-of charge, as a printed guidebook.

The Care Guide
20 Rivermede Rd., Ste. 202
Vaughan ON L4K 3N3

Toll-free: 1-800-311-CARE (2273)
Phone: 416-287-2273
Fax: 416-284-2571
E-mail: info@thecareguide.com
Website: www.TheCareGuide.com

3.2 Community Care Access Centres

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care provides long-term care programs through their 14 Community Care Access Centres (CCAC). Community Care Access Centres help co-ordinate services for seniors, people with disabilities and people who need health care services in the community to help them live independently in their own homes for as long as possible.

A CCAC case manager is the single point of access to information, community support services such as in-home services, respite services and adult day programs along with long-term care placement.

Case managers, in collaboration with you can determine eligibility and arrange for essential:

• visiting health and support services in your home
• services for people recovering from surgery or an acute illness
• support services to enable people with physical disabilities to live independently at home
• a variety of services that help frail older adults to remain living independently at home
• facility-based care for those who require 24-hour nursing service to meet their nursing and personal care needs, and
• can help provide information and referrals if you wish to purchase additional services.

To find the CCAC nearest you, contact the Seniors’ INFOline:
Toll-free: 1-888-910-1999
Phone: 416-314-7511
TTY Toll-free: 1-800-387-5559

Visit the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Website at www.health.gov.on.ca and www.healthyontario.com for contact information on the CCAC in your area.

In-Home Services

The case manager will work with you to determine eligibility and arrange for a range of visiting health and personal support services in your home that may include nursing care, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech-language therapy, palliative care, dietetic services, social work, personal support services such as bathing and dressing, and homemaking such as meal preparation and feeding.

You can receive in-home services if:

• you are an Ontario resident and have a valid Ontario Health Card, and
• adequate treatment can be provided at home, and
• your needs cannot be met as a hospital outpatient.

If it is determined that you are not eligible for a program or service, the CCAC staff will help you explore other options.

Respite Services

Respite services allow a caregiver to take a break from the challenging responsibilities of assisting and supporting an aging parent or other family members. Respite care may be offered as an in-home or out-of home service. See your CCAC case manager for further information about respite services.

Adult Day Programs

Adult Day Programs provide supervised individual programming in a group setting to help adults achieve and maintain their maximum level of functioning to avoid premature and inappropriate institutionalization, and to provide respite and information for caregivers. Components of the service include planned social, recreational and physical activities, meals, transportation (if required), personal support/attendant care and minor health services (e.g. monitoring medication).

Some Adult Day Programs have a specific mandate to serve only individuals with an acquired brain injury, Alzheimer Disease and other progressive cognitive disorders and dementias, or the frail elderly. Other programs provide integrated service for all of those. See your CCAC case manager for further information about adult day programs.

3.3 Community-Based Health Services for Aboriginal People

First Nations, Aboriginal and Métis people can access long-term care services through the Community Care Access Centres (CCAC) and/or community support service agencies such as Aboriginal Health Access Centres as well as through some Aboriginal organizations.

Aboriginal Health Access Centres

Aboriginal Health Access Centres offer culturally appropriate primary care to Aboriginal families across the province. Programs may include pre- and post-natal care, nutrition, health education, disease prevention, counselling, and traditional healing.

Community Support Services Delivered by Aboriginal Organizations

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care funds some Ontario Aboriginal organizations and agencies to provide long-term care community support services to Aboriginal people who reside off reserves and to Métis people. Support services are offered through different sites and locations across the province. For example, the Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres co-ordinates the delivery of a range of long-term care community support services through its 26-member Friendship Centres located across the province. The Métis Nation of Ontario delivers community support services through 12 sites located across the province.

Community Support Services Delivered by the First Nations

The First Nations manage and deliver various health and social services on behalf of their members including community long-term care and facility services in their communities. The range and type of services available varies from community to community.

Some First Nations communities and organizations are directly funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to deliver long-term care services to their communities. While homemaking services are the most common, some receive provincial funding to provide community support services (meal programs, friendly visiting, security checks) and in a few cases professional health services.

Aboriginal Diabetes Programs

Aboriginal communities and organizations offer a range of culturally and linguistically appropriate programs emphasizing health education, early intervention and the prevention of complications.

The Southern Ontario Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative (SOADI) offers outreach services by five regional workers. For the program nearest you, contact the SOADI main office 1-888-514-1370.

The Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres (OFIFC) offers diabetes education services through the health outreach, life-long care and pre-natal programs of its 29-member locations. For the location of your nearest Friendship Centre, contact the OFIFC central office at 416-956-7575. Website: www.ofifc.org

Diabetes programming is provided by First Nations communities across Ontario:

The Anishinabek Health Commission of the Union of Ontario Indians delivers programs to 43 First Nations.
Phone: 705-497-9127
Website: www.anishinabek.ca/uoi

Grand Council Treaty #3 offers prevention and education programs to 24 First Nations communities.
Toll-free: 1-800-665-3384
Website: www.treaty3.ca

The Nishnawbe Aski Nation delivers programming to 48 First Nations.
Phone: 807-623-8228
Website: www.nan.on.ca

The Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians serves eight affiliated communities.
Phone: 519-434-2761
Website: www.aiai.on.ca