Compassionate home care tailored to your needs

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

• How do I know if a loved one could benefit from home care services offered by Calian?
  For those who need a little help with daily living tasks after-surgery care, getting home care support can be a great option.  Consider all your options, your available funds and available alternatives before making any decisions. 
• How can my loved one, or I, remain in the home? 
  We may depend upon our family or spouses to help us out on occasion, but we still want our independence. As life happens and things change it is important to know about the services that can help you stay in your home. Your needs or the needs of your loved one, is dependent on health conditions, the amount of support needed, the amount of support already in place, and budgetary restrictions.  
• I am concerned about the welfare of my loved one, is there something I can do?
  You may have noticed some things that cause you to be concerned about your loved one, such as dirty clothes, a messy home, poor hygiene or other unusual behaviour. There may have also been an incident where they fell or are starting to forget things.

  Whether the change comes about slowly or suddenly it is hard to see a loved one suffer. Whatever the reason for the change, it is important to talk with them if you are concerned and try to work together to find the best solution.

  Here are some suggestions for talking with your loved one: 

  1. If they are resistant, try to find the reason why. 

  It is possible that they don’t recognize they need help, or are afraid of losing their independence. It may be difficult for them to acknowledge and accept that they are in need of assistance. They may be lonely due to the loss of a loved one or the inability to get out and about. If that is the case, it is possible that they are suffering from depression as well. 

  2. Don’t accuse them; just address your concerns calmly. 

  It may make them less defensive and more open to the suggestion of getting some help. It’s better to say: “I’m concerned that all your needs are not being met. Do you think we should try to work on taking care of you?” instead of, “You obviously cannot care for your own needs anymore. So I’m going to get you help.” 

  Allow your loved one to participate in decisions so that they can maintain their independence. 

  There is no reason to exclude your loved one from decisions about their care unless they are mentally or physically unable to participate. Ask them what services they feel they need the most and what services would they feel most comfortable with. It may help if you position it as more of a temporary solution rather than a permanent one. 

  3. Get help from others. 

  If your loved one has friends or family that have gone through the same situation, it may help to have them come and talk to your loved one. Hearing people they know give positive reports could encourage them to take that first step. It may also help if you get their doctor to have a meeting with all of you, or to engage the services of a geriatric care manager. Hearing the facts from a person with no vested interest in the situation may allow your loved one to see things in a different light. 

• Is your loved one unable to make decisions? 
  If your loved one is endangering themselves or others due to memory problems or frequent accidents, it is important to understand that this behaviour may be due to diseases such as Alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson’s, stroke, etc. If possible, you should have this conversation before your loved one reaches a point where they cannot participate. 

  You may also consider a Power of Attorney for personal care and one for property to assign legal authority to act on their behalf to manage health, legal and financial affairs. This way your loved one can rest easy knowing that their voice will still be heard even when they themselves are unable to do so.  If you are confused about your options or about what is the best course of action you, should meet with an advocacy group and an attorney that practices elder law. 

• What are the benefits of home care?
  Many seniors prefer to maintain their independence and not have to move in with a relative or into a residential nursing home. When living independently is not safe anymore, it is important to know that there is a service that can satisfy both the need for aid and the need for independence. In-home care can span from a few hours a week to requiring 24/7 around-the-clock care. 

  We thoroughly vet and insure our providers, and train them to help with baths, exercise, medication, cooking, light cleaning and transportation. 

  We provide helpers who can be trusted, and offer flexibility in the level of care required. You can select the kind of help you need as well as the amount of time you need it. Best of all, home care is less costly than a nursing home. 

• How much does home care cost?
  Thankfully, the advances in healthcare provide more options to choose from beyond residential nursing homes. 

  Although the Ontario government provides support in a great deal of areas, they may not fully cover healthcare services. The government does not have to pay for assisted living costs. They may help struggling families pay a part of the costs, but the rest of it is covered by the family. There are some life insurance policies that may reimburse for care services, and there are long term care policies that are designed to offer long term care services. 

  Our reimbursement specialists can work with you to leverage all available public and private resources to help you afford the level of care you need.

• How should I choose a home care agency?
  Trying to find a provider or service that is right for you or your loved one can be a daunting task. That is why we have compiled a list of questions that you can ask prospective providers as well as people who have had experience with that provider. This information will help you to best figure out which provider or service is right for you or your loved one.

   

  Questions to ask: 

  • How many years of service does the provider have? 
  • Do they have information that clearly outlines the services they provide, eligibility requirements, costs and payment options? 
  • How are the caregivers or other staff members chosen and trained? Are the employees protected and bonded? 
  • Who evaluates the needs of the client? Are they nurses or therapists? Are the client’s healthcare professionals and family consulted about care? Are they consulted about changes in the care plan? 
  • Is the care of the client documented with tasks for each service care individual? Are copies of the care plan distributed to the family and healthcare professionals, including updated copies? 
  • Are supervisors assigned to watch over the care being given to ensure safety and proper care? If so, how often does the supervisor check in? 
  • If there are problems, who does the client or their family get in contact with? 
  • How are the reported or observed issues taken care of? 
  • How is billing and payment carried out? Are financial statements with point by point accounting provided? Are the financial aspects fully explained to the client and the family? 
  • How are emergency situations handled? Are caregivers available 24/7? 
  • How are confidentiality issues handled?