It’s no secret that seniors in Ontario are facing a deficit of services available to them. In the Toronto Central CCAC, wait lists for access to long-term facilities are measured in the hundreds of days. The Baycrest Centre, Jewish Home for the Aged has a typical wait time of nearly three years. The situation is even worse across the GTA: nine out of ten individuals waited five and a half years for a place in Mississauga’s Yee Hong Centre. Even as the debate over lengthening wait times for space in long-term facilities in Ontario goes on, families are discovering that home care services can meet the needs of even the most complex patients. Personal caregivers can provide a range of assistance from basic to palliative care. Here’s a look at some of the services you may be able to access from senior homecare agencies in Toronto.
Companionship and Transportation
At first, an older loved one may only need limited assistance with household chores or shopping trips. A few hours a day several days a week with support may be enough to help them maintain their home and get out into the communities that they value so much. Socialization is an important way of aiding with depression in elders, whether that comes from conversation or getting out to local shops and restaurants.
Dementia Care
Maintaining an elder’s sense of independence when they are suffering from dementia is a challenge but far from impossible. Many professional support workers are training in the Montessori Method for Dementia, enabling them to use their time with clients on mental exercises and self-esteem building. As seniors with dementia lose their ability to take care of themselves, they may feel as though they are burdensome and unproductive. A Montessori-trained PSW will do things such as ask a client for help in light housework to foster a sense of being needed and valuable.
Palliative
Caring for elders with terminal illnesses is often best done at-home. Familiar environments are emotionally and psychologically beneficial for seniors with cancer or Alzheimer’s. The emphasis in palliative care is on quality of life and comfort. Homecare agencies like Mavencare are also incorporating emotional and spiritual concerns into their efforts to alleviate pain.At this stage, providing support and dignity are the best things you can do for a loved one.
Live-in Caregivers
For intensive eldercare that involves completing activities like eating and personal hygiene, bringing on a live-in caregiver means you can deliver essential help without having to move your loved one. Companies like Mavencare know the importance of the relationship between a personal support worker and a patient, so they use a matching algorithm to fit the right caregivers with the right clients. Many PSWs are also fluent in languages like Spanish, Polish, Cantonese, and Mandarin. Fluency in other languages is crucial in a caregiver if your aging parent struggles to communicate in English or simply prefers to use their first language. If you’re seeking live-in senior care, visit Mavencare.com to find out more. Find the right support worker for your aging mother or father.
