Service Definitions

Accessible Transportation

Transportation services available for individuals confined to wheelchairs.

Adult Day Programs

A support service, which provides supervised programming in a group setting for adults to assist them to achieve and maintain their maximum level of functioning, to prevent premature and inappropriate institutionalization, and to provide respite and information for caregivers. Components of the service include planned social, recreational and physical activities, meals, and transportation (if required), personal support/attendant care and minor health care service (e.g., monitoring medication). Usually located in a hospital, senior's centre or other community location, the service is provided for all or part of a day, or, in a few locations, during the evening. User fees may apply.

Advance Care Planning Services

Advance care planning is the process of making choices now, while the person is capable, about how a person wishes to be cared for in the future if he/she becomes incapable of making decisions. It is also about giving someone we trust the information and authority to act on those wishes for us. This service may include help with creating Power of Attorney for Personal Care documents

Ambulance ( Non Emergency)

Service that transfers or transports individuals who cannot use regular transportation or taxi services (usually because they are confined to bed) to medical appointments, long-term care facilities or other locations. Fees may apply.

Ambulance (Emergency)

Service to transport individuals with acute health needs to appropriate medical services in a timely manner.

Assessment

The systematic collection of information from all available sources and the evaluation of information in order to develop a plan of care.

Behavioural Management Services

Behavioural Management Services aid individuals with dementia and or their caregivers in the assessment and treatment of behavioral disturbances, psychoses or depression. May include in and out patient care depending on the organization.

Bereavement Counselling

Programs that provide emotional support, problem-solving assistance, information and guidance for individuals who have recently lost a loved one. Counseling may be in the form of one on one counseling or group work. Services are not necessarily dementia specific.

Capacity Assessment Services

"Capacity assessment is a formal assessment of a person's mental capacity to make decisions about property and/or personal care under the Substitute Decisions Act, 1992 (SDA). Under the SDA, assessments are made in some situations where, as a last resort, individuals need to have someone else make decisions for them on a long-term basis. If a person is found incapable of making decisions regarding property and/or personal care, a guardian may be appointed or a power of attorney may become effective, depending upon the circumstances."

Case Management

This service assists clients and their caregivers with problem identification and clarification through the gathering of client information and the provision of short-term service coordination. Case managers generally provide the following services: 1) Develop long-term goals, identify appropriate community and specialized support services in order to maximize independence and to increase accessibility of generic services. 2) Assist clients and their caregivers in the coordination of services. 3) Act as advocates for individual clients, or support clients and/or caregivers in their role as an advocate. 4) Work collaboratively with other community agencies to develop and maintain a continuum of coordinated services.

Community Care Access Centre (CCAC) - Placement

Community Care Access Centres (CCAC) are not-for-profit community agencies, which are responsible for the direct provision of information and referral services, placement coordination services and case management. If clients need services while waiting for placement, CCAC's make the necessary referrals and connect them to the appropriate services and service providers.

Community Care Access Centre / Home Care

Community Care Access Centres (CCAC) are not-for-profit community agencies, which are responsible for the direct provision of information and referral services, placement coordination services and case management. On behalf of individuals in the community, they are also responsible for the indirect delivery (through contracts) of: Professional services such as: nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, social work, nutrition therapy, speech and language pathology; Personal support/homemaking services such as: light house cleaning, doing laundry, ironing, mending, shopping, banking, paying bills, planning meals, caring for children, supervision, washing, mouth care, hair care, menstrual care, preventive skin care, changing dressings, hand/foot care, etc. CCACs are funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and governed by government-appointed Boards of Directors.

Congregate Dining

A support service that provides a nutritious meal at a central location on prearranged days. It may include social activities and transportation.

Crisis Intervention

Service that provides support and crisis intervention in critical situations to vulnerable and at-risk individuals, including persons with dementia and/or their caregivers. The goal of the service is to stabilize the crisis situation, and to begin to develop a plan for the longer term.

Dementia Specific Counselling

This service provides supportive or therapeutic counselling, education, information and referral to both the person with dementia and their caregiver at all stages of the disease, from before diagnosis to the late stage. Issues such as getting diagnosis, understanding dementia, immediate and future care of the person with dementia as well as family coping may be discussed.

Dementia Specific Educational Training and Support

Educational training and support on dementia specific topics open to professionals in the community who are working with persons with dementia and or their caregivers. Fees may be applicable. This does not include internal staff training.

Dental Services

Programs that specialize in mouth care including the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the teeth and gums.

Departure and Tracking Alarms

Departure alarm is a device that alerts a caregiver or family member when an individual attempts to leave the house on his/her own. A tracking device allows a caregiver to locate someone who has left the house.

Dieticians / Nutritionists

The practice of dietetics is the assessment of nutrition and nutritional conditions and the treatment and prevention of nutrition-related disorders by nutritional means.

Driving Assessments

Driving assessments to determine an individuals medical fitness to drive.

Early Onset Services

Services geared to individuals diagnosed with dementia before the age of 65 or their families.

Education for Persons with dementia

This service provides information, education on dementia that will assist persons diagnosed with dementia in their understanding of the diagnosis, disease progression and future care. This includes workshops, lectures and other educational programming.

Elder Abuse Services

Elder abuse includes any act of commission or omission that results in harm to an elderly person. Programs and services are aimed at preventing, identifying, investigating and/or mitigating the effects of elder abuse. Programs are specific to each organization. Please refer to each specific organization for more detailed information.

Family Physicians

Normally the first point of contact with the health care system. Focus on prevention, early detection and treatment of general health care problems through regular physical examination. For diagnosis and treatment of specific conditions, family physicians may refer patients to a specialist.

Financial Planning

Private or not for profit agencies that may aid individuals in planning for their financial future. Services are provided by bankers, financial consultants or lawyers. These services may include help with creating Power of Attorney for Property documents.

Footcare Specialists

A service that arranges for a person, trained in basic or advanced foot care, to care for the feet of an individual who is unable to do so himself/herself. Service may include trimming toenails, monitoring the condition of feet, bathing and massaging feet. May include the service of a chiropodist or podiatrist. Fees may apply.

Friendly Visiting

A one-to-one support service that provides a volunteer to visit an isolated senior, physically disabled adult, or person with dementia, on a regular basis. The visits are generally made to the client's home but the volunteer may also do shopping for the client, take the client on a shopping trip, banking or to a social or cultural event.

Geriatric Medical Assessment

Evaluates the individual's medical status, using specialized knowledge of the health and illnesses of the elderly.

Home Healthcare Equipment Services

Health care equipment for clients convalescing at home, including walkers, wheelchairs, commodes, crutches, bath seats, etc.

Home Maintenance Programs

A support service that arranges for an individual worker or company to undertake a home maintenance and/or repair job when the job is beyond the consumer's capability to undertake or arrange. The job may be undertaken regularly, occasionally or once only.

Home Safety Assessment and Counselling

A service that assesses the potential physical dangers faced by people with memory and cognitive deficits living alone or with family. Solutions to these potential dangers are proposed and/or arranged.

Homeless People

Services for individuals living in shelters, hostels or outside.

Homemaking / Home Help

A support service provided in the home by trained personnel who assist with routine non-personal household activities such as: light house cleaning; laundry; ironing; mending; shopping; banking; paying bills; planning menus; preparing meals; caring for children; supervision; assisting a person with any of the above activities; providing prescribed equipment, supplies or other goods.

Homes for the Aged

Residential setting that provides care on a 24-hour a day basis to individuals whose needs can no longer be met in the community. Long-term care facilities include nursing homes and homes for the aged. Placement into a long-term care facility is secured through the clients local community care access centre.

Information and Referral

A service designed to link the individual to appropriate services. Most community agencies provide this service to their clients or to individuals who call for assistance.

Legal Services

Agencies providing legal advice, consultation or representation. Service fees may apply. Please refer to each organization for specific information.

Long Term Care Facilities

Residential setting that provides care on a 24-hour a day basis to individuals whose needs can no longer be met in the community. Long-term care facilities include nursing homes and homes for the aged. Placement into a long-term care facility is secured through the client's local community care access centre.

Meals on Wheels

A volunteer-driven support service that delivers a meal to an individual to meet their nutritional requirements. Meals may be frozen or fresh. Some organizations may also provide delivery of fresh fruits and vegetables as part of this service. Fees apply.

Medical Response Alarms

A private service that provides an emergency response when the client pushes a button when in need of medical assistance. Fees applicable.

Multi-Disciplinary Treatment Services

Treatment by more than one health professional. Nurses, physicians, nutritionists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists are frequently involved.

Nursing Homes

Residential setting that provides care on a 24-hour a day basis to individuals whose needs can no longer be met in the community. Long-term care facilities include nursing homes and homes for the aged. Placement into a long-term care facility is secured through the clients local community care access centre.

Nursing Services

"The scope of nursing practice includes promotion of health, maintenance and restoration of health, prevention of illness and disability, alleviation of suffering, and ensuring a peaceful death when life can no longer be sustained."

Occupational Therapy

The practice of occupational therapy is the assessment of function and adaptive behaviour, and the treatment and prevention of disorders which affect function or adaptive behaviour to develop, maintain, rehabilitate or augment function in the areas of self care, productivity and leisure.

Palliative Care / Hospice

Programs that may provide a full range of palliative and supportive services for terminally-ill people who are in the final stages of illness and for their families. Services may include medical care, pain and symptom management, home nurse visitation, case management, counselling, and bereavement services for the patient and members of the family. A hospice may be a freestanding facility, a unit in a hospital or other institution, or a program of a hospital, agency or institution. Programs vary between organizations.

Personal Care Services at Home

Support services which promote independent living through assistance with personal care activities such as: personal hygiene (washing and bathing), mouth care, hair care, preventative skin care, routine hand or foot care; transferring or positioning into chairs, vehicles or beds; dressing and undressing; assistance with eating; assistance with toileting; escorting to appointments. Personal care is provided by personnel with specialized training, who can assist clients with their activities, or help to ensure their safety while they complete the activities themselves.

Personal Fit Meal Catering

A meal preparation service that provides high quality natural and unprocessed foods that are nutritionally balanced and naturally low in sodium and fat

Physiotherapy

The practice of physiotherapy is the assessment of physical function and the treatment, rehabilitation, and prevention of physical dysfunction, injury or pain to develop, maintain, rehabilitate or augment function or to relieve pain.

Psychiatric Assessment

An examiniation by a psychiatrist or other physician, designed to elicit or identify psychiatric dysfunction, such as anxiety or depression. (Depression or anxiety can present as dementia, but they are in fact "pseudo" dementias.) Comprised of a full history and mental status examination.

Psychogeriatric Assessment

Experts in aged care psychiatry who assess and treat individuals over 65 with mental health problems, including depression and dementia.

Public Information Sessions

Information sessions on dementia that are open to members of the general public.

Recreation Therapy

Recreation Therapy is the process of identifying an individuals interest, hobbies, and leisure activities and assisting the person to return to some of those enjoyable pursuits. A Recreation Therapist is trained to identify past and present interests as well as significant life events that would have an impact on the individuals leisure activities. In collaboration with the individual and his/her caregiver, the Recreation Therapist creates a treatment plan that assists the individual in his/her recreational pursuits by adapting previously-enjoyed activities or indtroducing new ones.

Resource Centre/ Library

A resource centre provides information services and resources to the public. The collection has a primary focus on dementia specific materials in many different formats including books, videos, journals, and reports.

Respite Care at Home

A support service in a client's home to provide short term relief for family and friends from their caregiving role, and to help relieve stress placed on family relationships.

Retirement Homes

Retirement homes are privately owned rental accommodations for seniors. While services vary between homes, retirement homes usually provide meals, laundry services, recreational activities, assistance with medication, and assistance with baths. Generally, retirement homes are designed for seniors who need minimal to moderate support with activities of daily living activities, however some homes are open to persons with dementia. The Government of Ontario does not subsidize, regulate or monitor standards in retirement homes. Costs vary according to room accommodations, meal plans, services and personal care needs of the resident. A private room can cost between $1050 and $3500 per month.

Sault Chiropody

Lori Lehtimaki D.CH., R.P.N. Registered Chiropodist 683 Great Northern Road., Unit 4 Sault Ste. Marie, ON P6B 5A1 Phone 705-256-8386 Fax 705-256-8120 Email saultchiropodyclinic@gmail.com

Short Term Stay

Designed to supports clients during recovery from an illness or to provide a respite break for caregivers. These stays are for a short, specified time up to a maximum of days per year.

Speech Pathologists

The practice of speech - language pathology is the assessment of speech and language functions and the treatment and prevention of speech and language dysfunction or disorders to develop, maintain, rehabilitate or augment oral motor or communication function.

Support Groups for Caregivers

Programs that offer a facilitator lead group session in which unrelated groups of individuals, couples or families discuss their attitudes, feelings and problems related to their caregiver role and, with input from other members of the group, attempt to achieve greater self and interpersonal understanding and adjustment and explore solutions to their problems. May be ongoing or time limited.

Support Groups for Persons with Dementia

Programs that offer a facilitator lead group session in which unrelated groups of individuals, couples or families discuss their attitudes, feelings and problems related to their caregiver role and, with input from other members of the group, attempt to achieve greater self and interpersonal understanding and adjustment and explore solutions to their problems. May be ongoing or time limited. These support groups are solely for persons who have been diagnosed with dementia. May be on going or time limited. Generally facilitated by a professional in the field.

Supportive Housing Service

Supportive Housing is a Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care funded program that provides personal support services (available 24 hours a day) and essential homemaking services in selected buildings, seniors residences and congregate housing situations. The program is designed to assist people who need minimal to moderate care to live independently. No fee for service, but rental fees apply. Only those units that are open to persons with dementia are listed.

Telephone Reassurance

Programs that contact elderly individuals or people who have disabilities by telephone on a regular basis to ensure their good health and safety, and to reassure them that help is available if and when they need it.

Training and Education for Caregivers

This service provides caregivers/ family members with information, education on dementia that will assist them in their understanding of the disease progression and ways of improving coping strategies. Includes workshop, lectures and other forms of educational programming.

Transportation Services

A support service that provides escorted or unescorted transportation to medical appointments, shopping and to various social activities and programs.

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