Long-Term Care Facility Support
Eldercare Home Health works with seniors living in Long Term Care homes to ensure they receive the one-on-one attention that facility staffing ratios cannot always provide. We answer directly to you and your family.
When the facility needs support
Long Term Care homes in Ontario must meet Ministry of Health standards, but staffing ratios of up to 15 clients per caregiver make one-on-one attention difficult. Seniors who need help with meals, mobility, or hygiene on a consistent, thorough basis can fall through the gaps.
Working one-on-one means we can ensure clients actually consume their meals, are kept clean and comfortable, are repositioned regularly to prevent pressure injuries, and receive the support they need to remain as engaged and active as possible.
We answer to you
Eldercare Home Health is independent. We answer directly to the client and family, not to the facility. This independence allows us to advocate on your behalf when necessary.
Our Registered Nurse Case Manager supervises all care in the facility, communicates with the Director of Care and the client's physician, and adjusts the plan as the client's needs evolve.
When one-on-one attention matters most
Eldercare Home Health works with seniors who live in Long Term Care homes to ensure that they receive the nutrition, hydration, and attention they need. Working one on one means that we can ensure that clients are actually able to consume their meals and receive the nutrition that they require. We work to ensure that proper hygiene is in place and that our Client's physical needs are met, and we provide socialization and mental stimulation alongside hands-on care.
Long Term Care homes are designed to provide care for seniors and others who have significant care needs. Seniors who live in Long Term Care homes may be physically disabled, suffering from dementia, or both. They may be bedridden and/or be unable to feed themselves or take care of their own personal hygiene. They may be prone to wandering, and as a result be on a “locked floor”. They may even be a risk to themselves or others.
In Ontario, Long Term Care homes must be licensed or approved by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and are governed by the Fixing Long-Term Care Act. Wait lists for specific facilities can be long — as much as two years — and there is no guarantee that the long-term care facility closest to family will have a bed available.
Nutrition, hygiene, and repositioning
In Long Term Care homes, nutrition and hygiene are key. However, staffing ratios of up to 15 clients per caregiver during the day and 20 at night are not uncommon. Assisting a frail senior who has mobility issues, dementia, or Parkinson's disease to complete a meal can take 30 to 45 minutes. Facility staff often find that they are stretched to the limit trying to ensure that the seniors they are caring for receive the nutrition they need.
Similarly, ensuring that clients — many of whom are incontinent — are kept clean on a day-to-day basis as well as bathed is a challenge. Clients who are bedridden must be repositioned on a regular schedule or are at risk of developing pressure injuries, which on their own can be life-threatening.
Independence and our role
Eldercare Home Health is independent of the facility. We answer directly to the client and family, which allows us to advocate on behalf of our clients within the long-term care home when necessary.
Supplemental care in a Long Term Care home is arranged the same way as care at home: a Registered Nurse assessment on site, a nursing-supervised care plan, and caregivers matched to your parent's needs. During the assessment our Registered Nurse liaises with the home's Director of Care and the client's physician so the plan fits the facility routine. The steps below set out how care begins.
Five steps to care
Below are the steps we take when arranging supplemental care in Long Term Care facilities.
- 1
Initial enquiry
We ask about the person you are calling about, any recent changes in health, your key concerns, and how soon care is needed. A Registered Nurse is usually available to speak with you directly.
- 2
Assessment by a Registered Nurse
A Registered Nurse visits to meet the client, review their health status and environment, and speak with the care team if in hospital or a facility. All assessments are conducted by a Registered Nurse.
- 3
Care plan
The nurse proposes a schedule with identified outcomes, hours, and caregiver type. A Registered Nurse Case Manager is assigned to oversee all care and liaise with the client's physicians and pharmacists. There is no added fee for nursing case management.
- 4
Care agreement
You review and sign a care agreement. There is no lock-in; you can cancel with short notice. Invoices are payable by cheque or through your bank.
- 5
Care begins
The Registered Nurse Case Manager selects and introduces the caregiver. Our caregivers are Eldercare employees, not contractors. All staff carry liability insurance and are supervised throughout.