Friday, October 31, 2014
Assisted-Living Services Improves Care for Seniors
Innovative Model Building Strong Foundation of Community Care
October 31, 2014 – The Champlain LHIN has made investments in assisted-living services for high-risk seniors, improving care at home and reducing unnecessary emergency room visits. Thanks to this program, the LHIN and its partners are supporting seniors in their wish to be independent for as long as possible. What’s more, there were 155 fewer visits to emergency rooms in our region last year because these services were in place.
Assisted-living services provide support with daily living activities to help people remain in their homes. These services include:
- bathing
- dressing
- light meal preparation
- light housekeeping
- grocery shopping, and
- accompaniment to appointments.
Services may also include reminders to take medication, a 24-hour urgent-call response, care coordination and safety checks.
“This innovative program aligns with Champlain LHIN’s strategy of building a strong foundation of integrated primary, home and community care,” says Chantale LeClerc, CEO of the Champlain LHIN. “Assisted-living services are keeping seniors at home and in their communities for as long as possible.”
A total of 617 clients receive assisted-living services through 13 health service providers across the region. Total annual funding is nearly $12.5 million. Bruyère Continuing Care (Bruyère) and Perley and Rideau Veterans’ Health Centre (Perley Rideau) are two of the larger providers. The Champlain LHIN supports 110 assisted-living spaces through Bruyère in the Orléans area: 70 clients are within Bruyère Village, 20 are in the community surrounding the Bruyère Village, and 20 are in the Vanier catchment area. There are another 90 spaces provided through Perley Rideau: 70 clients are within the Seniors Village and the remaining 20 are in the community.
The creation of the Village concept at Bruyère and Perley Rideau has proven to be a groundbreaking approach in implementing assisted-living services to a growing number of seniors.
At Bruyère Village and Perley Rideau Seniors Village, residents can live independently in their apartments. When it is no longer safe for them to remain at home, they can transfer to a bachelor apartment grouped around a common kitchen and living room area. These so called “pods” or “clusters” are a state-of-the-art model that provides the perfect balance between independent living, personal support and socialization. By grouping the apartments together, a personal support worker can respond in a timely manner to the needs of all residents at a reduced cost. This is an innovative living concept in Ontario and Canada.
“We are very excited about the cluster model and what we are doing with assisted-living services,” explains Amy Porteous, Vice President for Planning and Residential Care at Bruyère Continuing Care. “It helps us provide an entire continuum on one site, where people can live completely independently but be part of the Village community, then move to assisted living where we can provide them with some supports, based on their needs and eligibility.”
Last year, only 20 per cent of clients in the assisted-living program had to visit the emergency room. Using population data as a comparison, we would expect that number to be closer to 50 per cent for those clients if they hadn’t received the services.
The program is also reducing unnecessary and avoidable long-term care home placements. The Masons (pictured above right) moved to the Perley Rideau Seniors Village in November 2013. Mrs. Mason was admitted to the hospital on several occasions before moving into their two-bedroom apartment in the Seniors Village and receiving additional support through assisted-living services at home and in the pods.
“After Velda went to the hospital, we were desperate that she was going to be placed elsewhere. But we stick together. The help we get is beautiful,” explains her husband, Mr. Mason. “The assisted-living service is helping us to stay together. Since we came here, we both have had few health problems,” says the 93-year-old veteran.“
"I am very proud of the assisted-living services model that has been implemented by Champlain LHIN. It is at the forefront of modern senior care and is a testament to the kind of progressive vision and initiatives that the present government is advancing in order to maximize the safety and independence of the elderly.” – MPP Marie-France Lalonde.
For more information on assisted-living services, call the CCAC at 1.800.538.0520, or 613.745.5525, 310.2222 (no area code needed).
If you are with media and would like an interview, please contact the Champlain LHIN Media Line (champlain.media@lhins.on.ca, 613.747.3250, or toll-free 1.866.902.5446 x 3250).
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