A GUIDE TO PLACEMENT IN LONG-TERM CARE...

A GUIDE TO

PLACEMENT IN LONG-TERM

CARE HOMES IN THE NORTH EAST

Outstanding Care - every person every day

If you or a loved one are considering placement in a Long-Term Care Home in your area this guide will answer many of your questions and help you make the right decision for you and your family Your North East CCAC Care Coordinator is here to support you through the assessment application and admission process and can provide detailed information about Long-Term Care Homes in your community including bed types wait times and cost

Table of Contents

4 What is Long-Term Care

4 What services are provided

5 How do I apply to a Long-Term Care Home

5 AssessmentEligibility

6 What should I look for in choosing a Long-Term Care Home

7 What if I am a veteran

8 Application

8 Preparing for your move

9 Responding to a Bed Offer

9 Admission Day

10 Getting Settled

10 Medical Care

11 Contact Us

4 A Guide to Placement in Long-Term Care Homes in the North East

There may come a time when it becomes too difficult for you to continue to live independently and safely in your own home When home care and community support services are no longer meeting your needs moving to a Long-Term Care Home may be one option to consider

What is Long-Term Care Long-Term Care Homes provide a wide range of services for people who need the availability of 24-hour nursing care and supervision within a secure but home-like setting

Long-Term Care Homes can be owned and operated by various organizations bull Nursing homes are usually operated by private corporations bull Municipal homes for the aged are owned by municipal councils bull Charitable homes are usually owned by non-profit corporations such as faith community

ethnic or cultural groups

Long-Term Care Homes are government-funded and regulated by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) The Ministry sets standards for care and inspects Long-Term Care Homes annually It also sets the rules governing eligibility and wait lists

What services are provided All Long-Term Care Homes offer 24-hour supervision nursing and personal care as well as access to a physician and other health professionals

Residents are also provided with basic furnishings (eg bed chair) all meals (including special diets) bed linens laundry and housekeeping services personal hygiene supplies medicalclinical supplies and devices (eg walkers wheelchairs) pastoral services social and recreational programs medication administration and assistance with the essential activities of daily living

5 Outstanding care ndash every person every dayA Guide to Placement in Long-Term Care Homes in the North East

How do I apply to a Long-Term Care Home Applying to a Long-Term Care Home begins by contacting the North East CCAC A Care Coordinator will meet with you and your family and will walk you through the assessment application and admission process

Your Care Coordinator will also provide information about the Long-Term Care Homes in your area including wait times wait lists costs and applying for financial assistance if needed

Assessment Eligibility

Your Care Coordinator will assess your needs to determine if placement in a Long-Term Care Home is right for you A Health Report completed by your doctor nurse practitioner or other primary care provider is also required to complete the assessment

This assessment is critical because we need to confirm the level of services you need and also ensure that the Long-Term Care Homes in your area can meet those needs For this reason you may be re-assessed several times while you wait for a bed and you should tell your Care Coordinator if you feel your health condition has changed

Following your initial assessment you will receive a letter from your Care Coordinator outlining your eligibility and the Long-Term Care Homes in the area that can meet your needs

If you are found to be ineligible and you disagree with your assessment you have a legal right to appeal the decision You may contact your Care Coordinator who will give you information on how to start the appeal process or you may call the Long-Term Care Action Line directly at 1-866-876-7658

If you are eligible for long-term care your Care Coordinator will provide you and your family with a list of the Long-Term Care Homes available in your community You can choose to be on up to five (5) wait lists

If you would like to apply to a Long-Term Care Home in another location in the province your Care Coordinator can connect you with a colleague at the Community Care Access Centre serving that area


What should I look for in choosing a Long-Term Care Home Selecting a Long-Term Care Home is a personal choice Visiting homes before making a final decision will give you an opportunity to ask questions and get a feel for how each home operates Most Long-Term Care Homes offer scheduled tours or will arrange a private visit at a convenient time for you and your family

Here are a few things to consider when deciding if a particular Long-Term Care Home is right for you

Environment bull Are the staff members friendly Do you sense an

atmosphere of warmth and concern bull Do residents look content and well cared for bull Is there a tone of dignity and respect for the residents

Physical Comfort bull Is the home convenient for family and friends to visit bull Are there areas in the home where you can visit

privately bull Can you bring your own furnishings bull Is there an option to keep your personal belongings

secure (eg lockable drawers)

Personal Choice bull Is there flexibility around visiting hours bull Do the activities at the home sound interesting

and appealing bull Is public or volunteer transportation available bull What are the policies around smoking and

alcoholic beverages bull Is the home ablewilling to meet your

religiouscultural needs bull Does the home require that your clothing be labelled

prior to moving in bull What are the extra charges if any for personal

needs and services

Smoking Most Long-Term Care Homes have restrictions on smoking and some donrsquot allow it at all Your Care Coordinator will let you know about specific homes and their smoking policies

Accommodations Long-Term Care Homes offer a variety of accommodation options with fees based on the type or style of accommodation ldquoPreferred accommodationrdquo is the term used to describe private or semi-private rooms with special features whereas ldquoBasic or Standard Accommodationrdquo refers to the least expensive option Please note that the difference between basic and preferred accommodation will vary according to when a particular Long-Term Care Home was constructed or renovated

Wait Times The length of time you wait for a bed offer will vary from home to home Wait times are influenced by how many people wish to live in that particular home the number of vacancies that occur in any given month the type of accommodation you have chosen and how urgent your assessed needs are Due to these and other factors your Care Coordinator will only be able to give you an approximate timeframe as to when you will receive a bed offer

Cost The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care pays for the care you receive but you must pay a co-payment for your accommodation The Ministry sets the co-payment rates As these rates can fluctuate your Care Coordinator will provide the co-payment information under separate cover

In many Long-Term Care Homes residents can purchase services such as telephone cable television dry cleaning foot care and hair care newspaper delivery and dental care for an additional fee


Reports on Long-Term Care Homes The Long-Term Care Home Quality Inspection Program (LQIP) safeguards residentsrsquo well-being by continuously investigating complaints concerns and critical incidents and by ensuring that all Homes are inspected at least once per year This is achieved by performing unannounced inspections and enforcement measures as required and ensuring that actions taken by the government are transparent The MOHLTC conducts complaint critical incident follow-up comprehensive and other types of inspections Copies of the public version of inspection reports detailing all findings of non-compliance must be publicly posted in Long-Term Care Homes and provided to Residentsrsquo and Family Councils They are also published on the Ministryrsquos website

To obtain a Homersquos report you can bull Contact the Long-Term Care Home directly bull Go to wwwhealthgovonca click on Public Information

and then select Reports on Long-Term Care Homes bull Call ServiceOntario toll-free at 1-866-532-3161

Financial Assistance If you feel you cannot afford to pay for basic accommodation you may be eligible for a rate reduction If you need to apply for financial assistance ask your Care Coordinator for a Rate Reduction Application Package This package should be completed before admission to long-term care and brought with you on admission day

As part of the application you will be required to provide a copy of your Notice of Assessment from the most recent tax year You may also be required to provide additional documentation in order to verify your income and you may be required to apply for other benefits such as Old Age Security (OAS) Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) Guaranteed Annual Income System (GAINS) and Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) There is no rate reduction if you are requesting a semi-private or private room

What if I am a veteran The North East CCAC assists veterans in accessing designated Veterans Priority Access (VPA) beds and other long-term care funding programs A veteran may also apply to Long-Term Care Homes without VPA beds and Veterans Affairs Canada may still assess for financial assistance

The North East CCAC will forward your assessment information to Veterans Affairs Canada with your written consent so that Veterans Affairs Canada can determine if you qualify for a VPA bed If a veteran qualifies and chooses to apply for a VPA bed then a long-term care application is submitted by the North East CCAC to the chosen Long-Term Care Home(s)

For more information please contact Veterans Affairs Canada at bull wwwvac-accgcca bull 1-866-522-2122 (English) bull 1-866-522-2022 (French)


Application Once you have applied for admission to your chosen home(s) the Long-Term Care Home reviews your application and assessment information to determine if the home can meet your care needs

The Long-Term Care Home will notify both you and the CCAC when they have reviewed your application

If the Long-Term Care Home determines it cannot meet your needs and refuses your application your Care Coordinator will contact you to discuss other options available to you and your family

If your application is accepted but no beds are currently available the CCAC will place your name on a wait list according to the ministry priority system

If there is a change in your situation or condition while you are waiting please contact your Care Coordinator immediately

Preparing for your move

While you are waiting for a bed offer here are some things you can do to plan and be ready bull Have money saved to pay for the first monthrsquos accommodation fee and any other services you might

want (phone cable television etc) This is especially important if you plan to sell your home after your move because you could end up paying for two homes until your current home sells

bull If you have arranged Powers of Attorney have copies ready to take with you on the day of your move bull Put labels on clothes and personal items you will be taking with you especially eyeglasses walkers and

denture containers bull Decide which items will make you feel at home special pictures ornaments a bed spread or blankets

Once you have settled in you may decide to bring other items from home such as a radio television or a comfortable chair It is best to check with staff if you are unsure about which items to bring

bull Talk with your family about the things you will not be bringing with you


Responding to a Bed Offer Once your name comes up for a suitable bed in the type of accommodation that you have chosen you have 24 hours to let the CCAC know if you will accept the bed offer This may seem like a short period of time but there are many other people waiting for admission into a Long-Term Care Home and hopefully you are well prepared to make your decision

If you accept the bed offer you must be prepared to move in within five (5) days and agree to begin paying accommodation charges Even if you do not move in the day the bed is available you must begin paying the accommodation charge immediately

If you agree to move into a Long-Term Care Home that is not your first choice you will remain on the wait list for your preferred home When a bed becomes available there the CCAC will contact you with another bed offer

If you refuse the bed offer your name will be removed from all wait lists and your file will be closed Keep in mind that you will not be able to re-apply to a Long-Term Care Home for 12 weeks unless your health condition changes dramatically

If you are in hospital when a bed offer is made the CCAC will notify the hospital that you have refused the bed offer and keep your file open until other options are considered

Admission Day Getting to your new home For your own safety security and comfort you should have a friend or family member accompany you to your new home and to help you throughout the move

You will need to bring bull Your Ontario Health Card bull A void cheque for automatic payment bull All the medications you are currently taking in the original labelled containers bull Personal items such as clothing toiletries comfort items etc If you bring electrical items such as a

lamp radio or television the maintenance staff at the home will need to check the cordsplugs before they can be used

bull Completed Rate Reduction Application Package (if applicable) and documents to verify your income bull Power of Attorney documents (if applicable)

Do not bring large amounts of cash or valuables and check with staff before bringing in food or alcoholic beverages


Getting Settled Itrsquos best to start by finding out how the home works There may be orientation sessions to help you and your family know what to expect If you arenrsquot sure ask a staff member

If you are a family member or friend of someone moving to a Long-Term Care Home you can make the early days of settling in to the new place easier by

bull Staying for the day to help the person get settled into their new environment

bull Helping to decorate the new room with familiar items and photos so it feels comfortable and more like home

bull Telling staff about the person moving in so that they become familiar with the person more quickly This might include things like routines likes and dislikes hobbies etc but could also include life accomplishments cultural background or family ties

bull If the person suffers from dementia or is otherwise not able to speak on hisher own behalf talking with staff about hisher life occupation and routines before the disease and about any coping strategies that have worked for you

bull Visiting as often as possible

Medical Care

There are two options for medical care once you are admitted to a Long-Term Care Home

1 All Long-Term Care Homes have contracted physicians who can provide medical care to the residents If you choose to have your medical care provided by the phy-sician at the Long-Term Care Home it is recommended you call Service Ontario at 1-888-218-9929 to notify them of the change in your physician

2 You may also choose to have your family physician continue to provide your medical care at the Long-Term Care Home You will need to discuss this option with your physician and heshe will need to agree to provide medical care as needed once you are admitted

Outstanding care ndash every person every dayA Guide to Placement in Long-Term Care Homes in the North East

Yoursquore in Good Hands Remember settling into a new home takes time This is a big change and getting used to it is something that everyone goes through in their own time and in their own way Give yourself time to adjust

Staff members at the home have helped many individuals transition to this level of care Donrsquot be afraid to ask for their help

If you have a concern about a particular aspect of the home talk to the Administrator or Director of Care so that it can be addressed immediately A list of Residentsrsquo Rights will be given to you when you move in

Contact Us Call us toll-free 310-2222 no area code required healthcareathomecanortheasten | northeasthealthlineca

The North East CCAC has six branch offices to serve you

Kirkland Lake 53 Government Road West Kirkland Lake ON P2N 2E5 Telephone 705-567-2222 Toll free 1-888-602-2222 North Bay 1164 Devonshire Ave North Bay ON P1B 6X7 Telephone 705-476-2222 Toll free 1-888-533-2222

Parry Sound 70 Joseph St Parry Sound ON P2A 2G5 Telephone 705-773-4602 Toll free 1-800-440-6762

Sault Ste Marie 390 Bay Street Suite 103 Sault Ste Marie ON P6A 1X2 Telephone 705-949-1650 Toll free 1-800-668-7705

Sudbury 40 Elm St Suite 41-C Sudbury ON P3C 1S8 Telephone 705-522-3461 Toll free 1-800-461-2919

Timmins 330 Second Avenue Suite 101 Timmins ON P4N 8A4 Telephone 705-267-7766 Toll free 1-888-668-2222

11

Excellence bull Compassion bull Accountability bull Collaboration bull Trust

If you or a loved one are considering placement in a Long-Term Care Home in your area this guide will answer many of your questions and help you make the right decision for you and your family Your North East CCAC Care Coordinator is here to support you through the assessment application and admission process and can provide detailed information about Long-Term Care Homes in your community including bed types wait times and cost

Table of Contents







8 Application



9 Admission Day

10 Getting Settled

10 Medical Care

11 Contact Us
































needs and services















































Medical Care















11


Table of Contents







8 Application



9 Admission Day

10 Getting Settled

10 Medical Care

11 Contact Us
































needs and services















































Medical Care















11

































needs and services















































Medical Care















11











































Medical Care















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A GUIDE TO PLACEMENT IN LONG-TERM CARE...

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