Sometimes we depend so heavily on our senior caregivers, we forget you have needs of their own. To combat the issue, Toronto plans to partner with the Province of Ontario to emphasise your fast-growing needs. Policies supporting reduced stays in hospitals and increased premature home care can have negative impacts on caregivers, as patients are moving home “sicker and quicker” than before.                              Home care is promoted as a cost-effective alternative to long hospital stays and facility placement. These programs are only cost-effective because it’s assumed family and friends are available and willing to assist in this provision of care, which isn’t always the case. Toronto’s senior-friendly outdoor fitness facilities Senior Caregiver support includes: Policies, usually in the form of education and counselling services for senior caregivers, are known to be limited and are often provided through voluntary agencies. There is an employment leave policy, entitled “Compassionate Care Benefit” which allows you up to 55 percent of your salary for six weeks to care for a terminally ill spouse, child, or parent. Suggested changes to this includes making caregiver assessment part of the policy and increasing available services for you by expanding the “caregiver” definition. Suggested changes include broadening eligibility criteria and extending the length of leave; adding family leave days; and providing incentives to private workplaces to expand their policies on family leave to include eldercare responsibilities. Suggested changes include financially supporting you through a non-taxable allowance; implementing a refundable tax credit for caregivers so that all caregivers will benefit from the tax credit. Respite care can offer you a brief period of relief or rest (usually more than twenty-four hours), if you are a regular caregiver and is a great way to get some much-earned support and rest. For additional information on caregiver support, you can also visit CaregiverExchange.ca.

Most of us would like to age in place in our home, but our ability to do so safely and independently depends on several factors. According to recent CARP polls, older voters want to hear more before the election on how parties would address key health issues: specifically, long term home-care. CARP Members Call on Parties to Fix Long Term Home-Care The first poll, conducted by CARP and AdvantAge Ontario,  revealed a massive 99 percent of respondents said long-term home-care is important in the upcoming election. The top three most identified issues in long-term care were: A Home Care Poll  found that two-thirds of respondents just aren’t confident that there is adequate, publicly funded, home care and community support. Toronto seniors’ access to healthy food Ontario’s action plan To improve services, reflecting on the changing composition of residents, Ontario has provided a solution called the “Aging with Confidence” Action Plan, including: They will provide 2.6 million additional home care hours this year, including personal support, nursing, physical and speech therapy. Expanding the seniors’ house-call program to include additional healthcare providers such as social workers, therapists and nurses, to reduce your need to travel to healthcare providers and stay healthy in the comfort of your own home. Continued support for communities promoting social interaction and fighting isolation, such as apartment buildings or housing developments where many seniors already live close to one another. Read 27 Highlights from the Toronto Seniors Strategy. Their action plan will allow you to stay in your home longer, enjoying a higher quality of life and a greater level of independence. To access the services mentioned, contact your local LHIN or call 905-948-1872.