Understanding The Process
To follow our last blogs, we want to help you understand the Canadian process for receiving long-term care for your loved one with dementia. It’s also important for you to make sure that your loved one needs this kind of facility care, rather than care in their home.
In Canada, because of our public healthcare system, which offers access to every Canadian. Anyone who needs to live in a long-term care facility can do so. However, because of the high demand, the system runs on a first-come first-served basis. It is called the first available bed system. The Health Authorities of most provinces, or in Ontario, the Community Care Access Centre (CCAC), choose and place individuals in care facilities. First you must assess that a care home would be best for your loved one. A case manager will be assigned to you and t his person will be the one to do the assessment in your own home. Once the assessment is complete and if your loved one qualifies; their name will then be placed on a wait-list.
Government Funded Care Facilities
Since there is so much demand for government-funded care facilities. The care homes get filled quickly and space becomes available intermittently at different locations. The location that one family may want, because of its close proximity to home may not always be available. When a bed becomes available in a care home, no matter where it is, the authorities offer it to the next person on the priority list. Families must choose to take the available spot within a 48 period when it is assigned. Else their loved-one’s name goes back on the list, at the bottom. Unfortunately, having your name go back onto the waiting list indicates to the authority that the person’s need may not be as critical as someone else’s. thus it may then take 3 to 12 months to find another care home for that person.
This system is not perfect, but it tries to help everyone. What’s important to do first, before putting the loved one’s name on a long-term care facility waiting list. Be certain you and your loved one are ready for this type of care.
Familiar Surroundings
A care home is often required for your loved one, if you decide that you aren’t able to provide the appropriate care for your loved one with dementia. If he or she is not comfortable living at home anymore. However, if a person with dementia is living at home without too many concerns or difficulties. A visiting caregiver is enough for his or her wellbeing. The best thing to do is to leave him or her living in familiar surroundings.
Three Reasons To Consider
Three other usual reasons for requiring the move to a care home are, financial constraints, increased physical decline or the need for constant and continuous care for someone who has more challenging behaviours with dementia.
If you’re having trouble caring for a person with dementia, but you would like to keep them living in their current home as long as possible, feel free to contact me for help or advice.
Hang in there…you are doing the best you can to care for your loved one. Know that he or she is very fortunate to have you to caring for them on this journey.
Karen 🙂
Karen Tyrell, CDP
Personalized Dementia Solutions
Personalized Dementia Solutions
