Jennie Stephenson
Communications & Fundraising Specialist, Eastern Counties

The summer months are for fun, relaxation, and socialization (especially after being cooped up so long with the COVID-19 pandemic). However, as we age our body changes how it copes with heat, meaning the season might be a little too hot and humid for some. With this in mind, Carefor Eastern Counties has put together some tips to keep you cool this summer.

Remember to stay hydrated

Seniors are more susceptible to dehydration as they don’t sweat or recognize thirst as well as they used to. Plus, many seniors take diuretics to treat certain health conditions which can cause the body to lose fluids. Before heading outside, drink plenty of water and make sure to keep some on hand to have while you’re outdoors.

Dress for the weather, and remember sunblock

Wearing cool, light clothing can help keep you from overheating. Protect yourself from UVA and UVB rays by wearing sunscreen with at least 30 SPF, and remember to wear your sunglasses and a hat with a brim to protect your eyes and face from the sun’s harmful rays.

Know when to stay inside

Exercising or working in the garden is a great way to stay active and can help feelings of isolation. Plan accordingly so you spend your time outdoors when it’s still nice and cool. The sun is strongest between 10AM and 4PM, so try to avoid labour intensive work during these times and stay inside. If you’re looking for some outdoor activities to do this summer, check out one of Carefor’s Support Centres located in Winchester, Ingleside, Finch, Alexandria or Lancaster – They offer group exercises and activities to seniors to keep you moving.

Keep medications up to date

It’s important to keep your prescriptions and refills up to date, as you may find yourself short on supply with summer vacations and impromptu weekend plans. Also, make sure your medications are being stored properly. Some medications may not work as they’re supposed to if they’re exposed to heat. Talk to your pharmacist if you have concerns or questions about how to store your medications.

Watch out for signs of heat-related illnesses

Heat exhaustion and heatstroke need to be addressed immediately. Heat exhaustion, a mild form of heatstroke includes symptoms of excessive sweating, fatigue, dizziness, intense thirst, cramping in the abdomen, legs, or arms, cool clammy skin, and nausea. If you or someone you’re with is experiencing heat exhaustion, drink water and move to a cool place. Heatstroke, a severe heat-related illness can be fatal if not treated quickly. Symptoms of a heatstroke include body temperature over 103 degrees Fahrenheit, red and hot dry skin, no sweating, a throbbing headache, confusion, lethargy and fainting. If you or someone you’re with is experiencing any of these symptoms, seek medical help or call 911. While you wait for help to arrive, lie down in a cool place.

Follow your local COVID-19 protocols, and stay connected

We’re celebrating so many of our seniors in the Eastern Counties are now vaccinated, and we’re excited to reconnect with you over the summer months. Stay in touch with friends and family, make plans and have fun! Play it safe, and remember we are still in a pandemic and need to be careful a little while longer. Follow any protocols set out by the Eastern Ontario Health Unit, and if you’re feeling unwell stay home. If you, or someone you know could benefit from engaging with fellow seniors, please connect with one of Carefor’s five Senior Support Centres located in Winchester, Ingleside, Finch, Alexandria, or Lancaster. 

 

Amy Boudreau,                                     
Director of Integration & Sustainability, Ottawa

The Challenge

Carefor was initially invited to participate in eleven Ontario Health Teams (OHTs) as they were storming and forming. Those early days of health system transformation in Ontario were a chaotic dance. With little time for mingling and courtship, it was more of a ‘rush to the dancefloor and grab your partner’ style dance in cities and regions across the province. 

It was a fascinating experiment put forward by the government, allowing organizations to self-partner, self-form and self-plan for their community or health team of the future. Creating a loose framework and letting people innovate and create within its walls allowed members to see what new ideas may emerge to solve age-old problems. It was an interesting proposition for change for Ontario. Thankfully, over the past two years of meetings, trust building and planning, those eleven OHTs in the Champlain Region were reduced to six with some Ministry guidance. A much more manageable number for Carefor and others with a similar regional wingspan.

The OHT’s flagship goals are improved population health, a coordinated continuum of care, 24/7 access to care coordination and system navigation, a better experience and better value for people and providers, digitally connected care and community engagement. In theory, these goals sound promising and together could bring about significant change and improvement to Ontario’s health care system. What is less understood about this ‘build your own’ community approach to health system improvement is how differently OHTs will operate from one another in future.

Those who live in the same community over time will likely learn to love this new approach, whereas those moving from one OHT to another may struggle with access and navigation of services that have been designed very differently. It will be interesting to see how the OHTs will achieve their goal of simplifying an already complicated system for Ontarians.  

At maturity, the province will have fifty or more OHTs under its umbrella. It’s too early to know how the government will help create the standardization it needs to measure success and demonstrate outcomes. In the meantime, we remain busy on the ground reimagining care and services in new and interesting ways with hopes of success and simplification.

Perhaps the greatest challenge of all for OHTs in this new era of health system organization is how funding will shift to meet a population health management approach. With a long history of hospital-based performance metrics and funding flowing to acute care, has the time finally come for a shift towards health promotion and illness prevention? With no new funding for programs and services, OHTs will be forced to reallocate funds to where they believe they should go, in the best interests of people. It would be great to see funding shift from an illness model to a wellness model, thus spending more of our limited resources in the community where people live and choose to lead their best lives.

We know this shift will not happen easily with few OHTs focusing on governance and funding allocations at these early stages. Perhaps it would be in our best interest to begin with changes to our health system metrics, which today are heavily weighted in acute care. By placing more value on person-centred care and consumer choice over health system performance, the funding could flow to meet people where they choose to live for as long as possible, in their homes and communities.       

The Complexity

We know that health system transformation is no easy ticket to change. For years the government has toyed with this idea in Ontario. For years it has remained the same, with minor tweaks here and there. This is understandable given the size of the challenge and the complexity of the existing system. However, the window of opportunity opened in 2019 and the government decided to take it.

The OHT model that evolved is an interesting one, “to provide a new way of organizing and delivering care that is more connected to patients in their local communities… and where health care providers (including hospitals, doctors and home and community care providers) work as one coordinated team, no matter where they provide care.” Encouraged to come together voluntarily around an attributed population, the first step for health care providers was to learn about the care and services delivered in their community, by their health sector partners.  

My colleagues and I often say that it takes up to two years to truly learn and understand the complexity of home and community care. In a province full of publicly and privately run home care organizations, Carefor Health & Community Services is unique in this space. It is a large regional not-for-profit charity, an organization that has 30+ programs and services, many with their own funding and accountability requirements, client/resident flows, systems, collective agreements and staffing models. The diversity of programs and services in this organization alone is nothing short of complex, making Carefor a unique health system partner offering an interesting array of bundled care under one roof.

As I quickly learned in the early days of OHTs, what’s even more interesting than the complexity of home and community care is how little it is understood by our health system partners. Those who depend heavily on the nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, community-based social workers, dieticians and personal support workers to transition our patients home from acute episodes and surgeries in hospital, and who care for those with chronic illness in their homes, actually know very little about home and community care and how it works. With recent changes to legislation, specifically the Connecting People to Home and Community Care Act (2020) or Bill 175, OHTs will soon be responsible for home and community care in communities across Ontario.

With an invitation to innovate, OHTs are only now starting to unpack this historical system and its legacy processes in their quest to integrate and smooth transitions from hospital to home. Although exciting, this invitation is somewhat daunting. A blend of public and private organizations, strict procurement and contracting practices, confusing performance metrics, health human resource shortages due to wage inequities with other sectors and years of chronic underfunding leaves OHTs with more questions than answers. I look forward to seeing how the Ministry will support OHTs with this newfound responsibility.

The Change

Despite the many challenges and complexities in our path, OHTs have created a new way of working in Ontario’s health care system. Health system partners have opened their doors, are building relationships with their health colleagues in different sectors and are reimagining care and services alongside our lived experience partners in bold new ways.

Carefor has embraced this change and is enjoying this new way of working – sitting at virtual tables across the region trying our best to educate, inform and challenge our partners to do things differently. Our top priority is teaching the inner workings of the home and community care sector, while suggesting opportunities for improvement, alignment and smoothing transitions for people receiving care at home and support in the community.

If health system transformation wasn’t enough change for an organization’s lifetime, throw into the mix a global health pandemic and you’ve got the perfect storm. Navigating through the changing tides of Covid-19 over the past year and a bit has been tough for all of us, especially those working in the health care space. Our providers, volunteers and leaders have never experienced anything quite like this, and arguably never will again. Despite the challenge, Carefor has come out of this storm a stronger and more resilient organization than ever before. I believe the same is true of OHTs across the province.

Although Covid-19 was not exactly on the roadmap planned by Ontario Health in 2019, this health crisis kicked OHTs into high gear. No longer were we spending our days dreaming of transformation, the pandemic forced partners to make transformation happen in record time, helping the most vulnerable people in our communities survive. Drawing from our newly built relationships, health team partners found new ways to use technology to work together to connect with people at home. As we learned more about the impacts of Covid-19 in our more vulnerable neighbourhoods, partners got creative in their out-reach efforts, working alongside communities to increase testing and immunization rates to address those hardest hit.  

For Carefor, Safe at Home became our mantra during this time as we worked to keep people safe and supported in their homes. Fortunately for us, very few providers and clients were infected with Covid-19; a similar story was reported by other home and community service organizations across the region. The lessons to be learned from Covid-19 will be studied by researchers for decades to come and will inevitably help shape the future of health systems and their structures, processes and outcomes. From my vantage point, the power of health system partners working alongside people in our communities is the real lesson we’ve learned and is something we need much more of in our future if we want to truly transform care.

Contributing to OHTs as a home and community care leader towards a fully integrated health care system is a vision that continues to inspire and motivate us all at Carefor. Sitting at various OHT leadership tables, our goal is to encourage a shift towards health promotion, illness prevention and a greater focus on planning for home and community care. We fundamentally believe that by respecting people’s choice to stay and live well with care and supports in their homes and communities, we will truly make a difference. Our goal is to align our message across the region as a trustworthy, not-for-profit home and community care partner. 

Nurses & Front-line Healthcare Workers Appreciation Deals

In honour of National Nursing Week, we’ve compiled a list of deals for nurses and front-line healthcare workers in our communities. This year has been more challenge than others to keep people safe and healthy. Your compassionate and heroic efforts have not gone unnoticed, so here are a few people who want to say thanks! 

1. New scrubs that won’t break the bank! 

Looking for professional uniforms for a bargain – or even for free? For Healthcare Appreciation Month, Scrubs for Them is giving away loads of prizes and offering special discounts storewide.

2.  3s Company is giving free fries!

If you’re a nurse living or working in Orleans, 3’s Company Chip Wagon crew wants to say thank you! This Wednesday, May 12 or Thursday, May 14 get a delicious fry on them at 3003 St. Joseph Boulevard. 

 

3. Get free books on Amazon

Every year, Amazon celebrates International Nurses Day. To honour the hard work of nurses this year, they’re giving away 4 books available to read on Prime Reading. Download them on your kindle!

 

4. Puma

Verified frontline workers get 20% off their purchases. And if you join PUMA Fam you can get an extra 10% off.

5. Let these yoga gurus take care of you

If there’s anyone who knows about the importance of relaxation and self-care, it’s yoga instructors. In an effort to say thank you for all your hard work in the community, Yoga 2.0. is offering a free virtual class for frontline workers. Send them an email at hello@yoga2point0.com with any proof of employment to get setup.⁠

6. Looking to score a good deal on a car? Now’s the time!

General Motors is offering front-line healthcare workers $1,000 off select vehicle models as part of their Heroes Program. 

 7. A discount from Lululemon you don’t want to miss

Once we can get back to in-person shopping, Lululemon is offering a 25% discount on your order. Make sure to bring valid ID. 

The Value of One. The Power of Many.

Dianne Kuipers,                                     
Manager of Community Support Services, Eastern Counties

If hindsight is 20-20 then Volunteer Canada sure got it right! Who would have predicted that its theme in 2001 would resonate so loudly in 2021? But indeed, it does!

The United Nations declared 2001 the International Year of Volunteers to shine a spotlight on the contributions made by so many who were helping people and shaping their communities through their generosity and acts of kindness. That same year, Volunteer Canada responded with great foresight and leadership in developing the Canadian Code for Volunteer Involvement (CCVI) to support agencies, like Carefor, that engage volunteers. Now in its third iteration, the CCVI continues to be the guiding document for so many organizations. It recognized the contribution of volunteers that year under the banner theme: “The Value of One. The Power of Many.” Twenty years later and one year into the world-wide pandemic, Volunteer Canada decided that its 2001 theme is just as relevant now as it was then. I could not agree more. We NEED our volunteers! We MISS our volunteers! 

In March 2020 when the words “lock down” became very real in our lives, almost everything stopped. Stay-at-home orders were implemented by our local Health Units. The pandemic highlighted vulnerabilities, and folks over 70 years old were advised they were most at risk. This news affected our volunteers as much as our clients. Of the 140 volunteers engaged in meals delivery in the Eastern Counties in March 2020, 100 were over the age of 70. Yet, of the 140 volunteers, 100 opted to stay on to deliver meals because of Carefor’s COVID-safety protocols. This one program reflects the profile of volunteers in so many others. However, because of the congregate nature of so many programs, these were deemed at-risk activities. Though so many volunteers wanted to continue to serve, their programs were halted for health and safety reasons. Suddenly, the contribution of nearly 700 volunteers in Carefor’s Eastern Counties programs was impacted by age and COVID-19 circumstances. Volunteers are a valuable human resource and an asset to protect.  

For years, organizations have grappled with the challenge of quantifying the impact of volunteerism. Increasingly, funders and supporters want to know the economic value of volunteering. For many, the way to capture the financial value consists of estimating the time spent by volunteers and multiplying it by an hourly rate. It is a simple calculation and deemed an easy way to financially account for the benefit of donated time and service. However, does a blanket dollar value really represent the full impact of volunteerism? Many would say no. Many would insist that assigning a monetary value to the act of volunteering belittles generosity and kindness. Others would say that the interest, dedication, and passion of volunteers are priceless. Volunteer Canada weighed in on this important topic by drafting a policy statement and concluded that both qualitative AND quantitative measurements “must be considered equally valid and compelling.” The true impact of volunteerism is incomplete when only looking at the economic value.

This is reflected in the CCVI which states that volunteer involvement has a powerful impact on Canadian society, communities, organizations, and individuals. The pandemic experience certainly affirmed this. When the Prime Minister, the Premier of Ontario and the Medical Officers implored people to stay at home, many of our volunteers followed orders. As engaged as they may have been with Carefor, they recognized the importance of stepping down to stay safe. They did their civic duty. Though we miss them terribly, we applaud their resolve, and we cannot wait to welcome them back when it is safe to do so.

When most volunteers are recruited, they tell us of their desire to help and of their need to feel connected to something important. Often, the program of choice is meals delivery because they know they are providing more than just a meal. COVID-19 compounded the issue as Carefor experienced a surge in demand for meals. Food delivery was never more important. Following COVID safe protocols, determined volunteers continue to serve by delivering meals and checking in on clients, many of whom are isolated. As one Carefor employee put it, “The volunteers are a critical lifeline for our seniors.” Carefor’s pandemic experience with the meal delivery program reflects another significant impact noted in the CCVI: volunteer involvement is vital for strong and connected communities.

Volunteer involvement also builds the capacity of organizations. This is true for Carefor. In one fell swoop, Eastern Counties’ human resources dwindled from 700 to a little over 100 volunteers. Most programs were suspended. Centres were closed and occupied only by staff. Hubs of activity became still and silent.  As expressed by one Carefor employee, “the Centre feels empty,” and by another, “I miss our building being a hive of activity and hearing all those cheerful voices.” We all look forward to the safe return of skilled volunteers and the resumption of programs that respond to the needs in our communities.

Deemed personal, volunteer involvement, as described in the CCVI, promotes a sense of belonging and general wellbeing. Many volunteers have told us how much they miss their connection to Carefor, the program in which they serve and the clients they support. Though in some programs like Befriending, exercise classes and some Adult Day Programs, the zoom alternative is available, most Carefor employees miss seeing volunteers in person. “I miss hearing the laughs and watching the teamwork that makes our program so much fun,” said one employee. 

Finally, the CCVI highlights that volunteering is about building relationships. Most of Carefor’s programs allow volunteers the opportunity to connect and to contribute to building relationships and community. Recalling the dining activities at the Centres, one employee expressed how she missed the smiles and caring concern on the volunteers’ faces; how they would kneel by the clients’ chairs to better hear their stories. “Each volunteer knows exactly which client prefers tea to coffee.” More importantly, each one recognizes the value of relationships and connections.

As Carefor joins in the celebration of National Volunteer Week, it does so by thanking all volunteers for their countless acts of kindness that continue to touch so many lives.  Whether six feet apart or on zoom, whether masked or looking through a window, whether on the phone or on the porch, whether doing their civic duty and staying at home or engaging in COVID safe activities – Carefor tips its hat to this very valuable resource – its volunteers.  

The Value of One. The Power of Many.

See how Carefor’s volunteers have made and how some are continuing to make an impact through COVID. 

Living Through a COVID-19 Outbreak at Richmond Care Home

Carole Green,                                     
Manager, Richmond Care Home

Robin Meyers,                                     
Director, Personal Support Services & Community Support Services, Ottawa

It has been a year now that we have been living with COVID-19. The topic of its impact has become as redundant as conversations about the weather, all of us contemplating and chiming in on how it’s permeated all aspects of our lives.

Where we have seen the greatest impact is in congregate care settings: retirement homes and long-term care. Doing all they can to keep it at bay, the incessant nature of the virus means for many homes whose threshold it has crossed, the questions becomes how bad and how long?

For the most part, Carefor works in the community, supporting people in their homes, but we do have three retirement homes: Carefor Mackay Centre and Carefor Civic Complex in Pembroke and Richmond Care Home, our homelike 16-bed retirement home just outside of Ottawa for women living with dementia. It was at Richmond Care Home that we experienced a full outbreak of COVID-19. 

Despite months of implementing intense safety measures to protect our residents, care team and visitors from COVID, what was initially identified as an “unidentified respiratory outbreak”, became a full COVID outbreak with all thirteen RCH residents testing positive. As you can imagine, we were very concerned with COVID entering our home, given the high-risk to our residents many of whom live with multiple comorbidities, advanced frailty, many 90+ years of age and all living with dementia.

We knew when we first heard the words “COVID positive” there would be no going back; we would be living with it for a while and there was real work coming. Having seen the tragedies that have transpired in other long-term care and retirement homes over the past year, our staff and our residents’ families feared the worst. What came next was a surprise. How quickly the team rallied and was supported by our community of health system partners, led to a completely different outcome than we were expecting.

Carefor, with support from Champlain Home and Community Care (formerly the LHIN) and Ottawa Public Health (OPH), immediately put supports in place for the residents and our care team. Daily communication between us and our partners quickly identified areas of support, oversight, encouragement, success, and areas in need of improvement. A wrap-around supportive approach to ensure continuous flow of information, personal protective equipment, an emergency staffing plan and community medical support to care for the residents was quickly put in place.

The care team was courageous, entering each shift to face the unknown. They worried about many things, such as the residents they cared for becoming very ill, wondering how they could maintain isolation in a unit of individuals with moderate-advanced dementia, wanting to ensure the residents did not experience loneliness and fear, and on top of that, hoping they themselves did not get sick or bring the virus home to their families.

The team stepped up to the challenge. They pulled extra shifts, stayed late and helped each other. Some staff took little to no time off in between shifts to continue supporting the residents and team. Cooks helped with one-on-one activities with residents; recreation staff helped with serving meals in the residents’ rooms; nurses and PSWs busily provided enhanced care, support and diligent monitoring. The constant donning and doffing of personal protective equipment meant staff were hot, awkward and tired. But still they persisted, maintaining the safety between them, the residents and others in the home. Personal protective equipment meant staff were safe to sit with the residents, to spend time beating back their loneliness and sharing some fun.

Additional staffing was pulled from Carefor’s Personal Support Services and Visit Nursing programs to supplement the care team and assist with clinical monitoring. They joined the team seamlessly, jumping in to help out and sharing some much needed laughs along the way. The residence physician, Dr. Michelle Casey, diligently followed all the residents’ cases and was on site regularly to review, assess and support the care team and residents. Showing up in her decorated scrub cap and ski goggles, she showed confidence in the care being provided, rallied the team and reassured families. Carefor dedicated one care team member to provide daily updates to all families about their loved ones, hearing worries and fears and reinforcing the steps being taken and sharing any progress.

Carefor also worked with Food for Thought to have hot meals delivered to the home for staff to take home, to help avoid the stress of having to cook for their families following their shifts. Families had takeout and treats delivered to the residence and sent messages of hope and care to the staff. One family member even decorated the front entrance for Valentine’s Day with red lights, hearts and door hangings to spread cheer among staff upon entering.

Over time, resident cases resolved. We watched daily as residents continued to improve, knowing the collective efforts of this amazing team were working. We had managed to keep COVID at bay. Some say we had luck on our side, and although that is certainly true, I can say with confidence that the dedication of the team, Dr. Casey, and all the additional support from our partners made our success story a reality.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion: Being better by doing better

Steve Perry
CEO

The past year has been revolutionary in many ways. Key among them has been the groundswell of discussion and support around the Black Lives Matter movement. The struggle by people of colour for equity, inclusion and justice has been a constant throughout history, but no time more than present times has it been part of our regular societal discourse.

The voices of Black community members speaking out against injustice and inequality have triggered a global reaction that has companies and organizations self-reflecting on what they have been or have not be doing to support inclusion and acceptance by not only Black people, but other staff and stakeholders who may have struggled to feel included and accepted at one time or another.  

Prior to 2020, organizations and companies have generally considered themselves in support of equity, diversity and inclusion. Although, in hearing the experiences shared through the Black Lives Matter movement this past year, most organizations have been inspired to reflect upon their inclusive philosophies and practices, asking themselves ‘what we could be doing better.’ Carefor is no different.

Carefor is fortunate to have a very diverse workforce. Not only in terms of race, but also gender, age, religion, sexual orientation and more. As an organization that supports thousands of people across Eastern Ontario each year, having a staff that is reflective of the communities we serve makes us a better organization and service provider.

Yet, in the shadow of 2020, we are also asking ourselves are we doing enough in our equity, diversity and inclusive policies and practices. While Carefor strives to offer a welcoming and supportive work environment to all our staff, we know it is through intentional, mindful practice that we can and must do better. Believing that we are an inclusive and supportive organization is simply not enough. It must be demonstrated, every day, in all aspects of our work, policies and practices.

At the midway point of our Strategic Planning cycle, we have decided to use this important moment in history as an opportunity to raise equity, diversity and inclusion as key pillars. While modernizing our policies and practices in these areas, we plan to make focused and concerted efforts to include diverse and underrepresented populations, ensuring staff and volunteers feel valued, respected and equally supported to reach their full potential. We will open conversations with our staff about inclusion and encourage them to join us in guiding Carefor to be an organization that is more than just welcoming of them but is also reflective of them.

On this, the first day of Black History Month, we want to lend our voices to the call for inclusion and diversity. We want to join the throngs of those speaking and more importantly acting in support of it. Meanwhile, there is no end goal here. Our success will be realized and measured daily by how welcoming and inclusive others feel, in everything we do. We value and welcome that expectation.

 

Using innovation to combat social isolation for individuals living with dementia  

Beth Monaco, 
Community Support Services Program Manager 

Earlier this month, we began our second lockdown since COVID-19 came to Canada in March 2020. In that time, social isolation has become our new normal. In that isolation we have realized how for all our lives we have taken for granted people and resources that, unknowingly at the time, were helping us get through our days and making us feel human and supported.

For people living with dementia and their loved ones, some level of social isolation has been a part of their normal day-to-day lives well before COVID hit. Typically, social interaction becomes more of a challenge causing people living with dementia to avoid it. Often once friends and family learn of a dementia diagnosis the circle of support shrinks. Care partners also experience social isolation, mostly due to the competing demands of caregiving, work, and other necessary duties. This pandemic has brought new challenges for people living with dementia and their care partners. 

Currently the weekly routine of attending in-person programs and services such as Adult Day Programs, support groups, fitness classes, personal hobbies, etc. are no longer available.  These differences have changed some long-standing and vital routines that can help people living with dementia maintain health, happiness, reduce isolation and combat the progression of the disease. These regular schedules also provide care partners a much needed break to re-charge and take some time for themselves. 

Caregiving and COVID 

Caregiving is under-recognized within our healthcare system. We often consider care beginning and ending in hospitals and clinics, but so much of keeping people in our communities healthy and out of long-term care and hospital falls on their families and loved ones.

People rarely if ever intend to go from spouse or child to full-time care partner. Initially they planned a future together, but after a dementia diagnosis their new reality becomes more day-to-day. As the disease progresses, the increased demands on the care partner result in their own health challenges and burnout. Of the 747,000 people living with dementia in Canada, 61% of them live at ^home — and they require support while staying there. This responsibility more often than not falls on family and loved ones, who spend 342 million hours a year on care tasks, the equivalent of more than 171,000 full-time employees. Of the care partners providing care to a loved one living with dementia 45% have expressed distress versus 26% of people supporting those with other conditions.

Taking the daily reality of dementia and adding the layer of COVID on top of it changes so much. We all have felt the impact of COVID on our mental health as we have lost our ability to get out and connect with our communities and one another. This lack of connection for a family living with dementia also means a lack of support and a lack of respite. Knowing what COVID would mean to our clients and their families, we had to figure out a way to continue to providing support, and quickly.

Opportunity from Crisis

Carefor offers the Regions’ largest and most popular Adult Day Programs, specifically geared for individuals living with dementia through social recreational programs. With the news of the global pandemic here in Ottawa, we had to make the difficult decision to close all of our in-person Adult Day Programs. However, as a team we knew we needed to uncover alternative ways to engage, stimulate and connect with our clients and families.  We wanted to Stay Connected!

In an effort to help alleviate social isolation and keep clients and care partners engaged on a daily basis, our five Adult Day Programs joined together to shift quickly and redevelop our programs through online and teleconferencing platforms. Ingenuity and creativity helped us maneuver through these unusual times.

With an abundance of patience, our day program teams reached out, encouraged and provided technical support to care partners and clients on how best to connect online via this new platform.  For those without technology accessible to them, staff developed programs that could be done over the phone on an individual basis or in a very small groups.

Our programs are now bubbling with good times and lots of laughs! The stimulating activities occur five days a week, four times a day.  Every week, we offer activities such as exercise, group discussions, trivia, music and singalongs, themed presentations, word games, and bingo – all virtually!

Our clients and care partners receive the daily activities list with accompanying links the day before, and they can join as many activities as they want.  During this time, some care partners take a break by reading a book, doing some exercise, cooking, etc. while other care partners choose to join the programs, enjoying the social interaction and connection they feel.

This familiarity and routine can help reassure clients by offering a sense of purpose, bringing more meaning to their day that might otherwise seem long and empty.  

Technology and Caregiving

Technology in healthcare has a long and well-documented history, but technology as a tool for caregiving is much more recent. One thing COVID has shown us is its value and a glimpse at its possible future.  With the boom of platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams, people are more and better connected than ever before. Geography becomes less important, and as we become more comfortable connecting through our computers and phones, we’re learning how to use these technologies in new and creative ways.

At the moment, Carefor is in the early stages of developing a platform with the Champlain Community Support Network that supports people living with dementia and care partners. Who knows where this will take us? What came on as a crisis has turned into an opportunity to improve our programs and services, and therefore our clients’ and their care partners’ lives, in ways that may not have been possible for years without the urgency of COVID-19.

These online programs will never replace our in person programs; the sounds and sights of a group of individuals laughing, dancing and singing together will always be a heart-warming and moving sight.  But during these unprecedented times, we all are staying connected at home so we can gather in person again when this is over.

Safe at Home is more than a campaign; it’s the future of healthcare

Director, Nursing and Allied Health, Ottawa

October marks the beginning of a new campaign for Carefor – a campaign we call Safe at Home. This is the brain child of an organization that has lived and breathed the sheer value and positive impact of what it truly means to keep our frail older adults living longer, happier and more fulfilling lives in their place of choice, their homes, for over a 100+ years.

Living safe at home has many meanings these days, and as we head into the cooler days of fall, the time we spend at home will grow. For me, home is the place where I can set aside the challenges of work to instead focus on the needs of my family. Home is not just a place of comfort and stability, it is often the place where we connect with those who matter most to us.

While our health system leaders are making every effort to flatten the curve in this second wave, it is clear that taking the necessary physical safety measures is top of mind for everyone. It also means spending time with our extended families, friends and caregivers from afar or virtually, via Zoom. Although our efforts in the Spring proved to be effective at flattening the curve in the first wave, we can’t deny how hard it was to shut down, retreat in our homes and wait.

At no other time in our recent memories have we seen our community dwellings as potential places of virus transmission and fear, such as our local grocery stores, community centres and libraries. The notion of ’home’ suddenly seemed like more than a safe haven, rather a refuge in troubled times. No other group felt this nearly as much as our seniors.

Recent headlines were filled with stories of seniors living in congregate care settings, such as long-term care facilities; institutions that prevented them from receiving family and other visitors. Institutions that denied them the ability to leave their rooms, for fear of virus spread. Although important measures to take, this caused much stress and angst among seniors and their adult children, knowing they would not have the emotional support they needed to feel a sense of safety and security. It worries me that these same people may once again feel emotionally vulnerable, as we face a second wave.

Having worked at Carefor for nearly fifteen years as a community-based Occupational Therapist and now as their Ottawa-based lead for nursing and allied therapies, I am very aware of the many clients who live safely in their own homes thanks to home care. With the dedicated supports of external caregivers they are able to live independently with regular connections and support provided by their families, friends and health care team. Whether it is assisting someone to bathe and dress, providing nursing care or giving advice on how to maintain a safe home environment, Carefor’s Home and Community Care staff regularly support client health care needs and help them maintain their autonomy as they age in their place of choice.

With the extra security of personal protective equipment (PPE) like surgical masks, gowns, gloves, and face shields, Carefor staff have continued to deliver much needed Home and Community Care services to members of our community. We’ve seen that the initial concern of health care workers spreading COVID-19 from one home to another in the community, has not occurred. In fact, what we’ve seen is much the opposite with the percentage of Home and Community Care clients contracting COVID-19 being (thankfully) quite low. This very fact proves that home care is one of the safest ways for clients to receive health services during a pandemic.

We also can’t underestimate the value of emotional health on one’s overall health and well-being. For many Carefor clients, having a daily or even twice daily visit from their Personal Support Worker can often be the only in-person social interaction they experience each day. These scheduled visits provide a regular touchpoint to connect with a familiar face, share the days events and feel supported by someone who cares about them. The emotional connection and bond that establishes between our clients and our Home and Community Care staff is often palpable. This trusted relationship is key to enhancing their quality of life and over all experience while living their senior years, in their home. As new COVID-19 cases emerge and government mandated restrictions increase, we can’t forget about the need to support the emotional well-being of individuals most vulnerable to the deadly consequences of this virus.

We also can’t ignore the burden placed on family members and loved ones who choose to keep their seniors safe and protected at home, the often overlooked care partners of our health care system. Doing so out of the love and deep desire to keep their loved ones at home, they too appreciate the support our Home and Community staff bring to them. Although our focus is on the client, so often it’s the caregiver who benefits as well, allowing them a break, support or if nothing else, peace of mind knowing that there’s a trained professional who cares, coming over to help.

Evidence shows the value of home care, but it also shows the desire for it. A recent Home Care Ontario study found over 95% of seniors in Ontario believe their home is the safest environment to live during the pandemic. 93% of seniors in Ontario would choose to stay in their homes with home care services instead of moving to a long term care facility. With only 10% of funding for long-term care* for seniors in Canada going to home care, it is evident that our publicly-funded dollars do not follow demand.

Crisis brings opportunity; if nothing else, this pandemic has given us reason to pause and reflect on how we can evolve our health care system to meet people’s goals and needs. We also have a great opportunity to move more resources back into the community, with health system transformation in Ontario. Home care isn’t always possible and isn’t for everyone, but with such a large percentage of the population seeking it as an option for themselves or their loved ones these days, we must start to value home and community care much like we do other areas of the health care system.

*Crisis Working Group Report, CD Howe Institute, June 2020

7 self-care habits to prevent social isolation in caregivers during COVID-19

 

Moojan Haidari
Communications & Fundraising Specialist, Ottawa 

Despite lockdown restrictions easing in the province, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact our daily lives. Canadians are still working to flatten the curve by practicing good hygiene, physical distancing, and staying at home.

While some people are finding ways to cope with being more socially isolated than usual, not everyone has figured out how to navigate during this challenging time.

Carefor Day Program Team Leader Carolyn Puderer recommends following these 7 self-care habits to prevent social isolation in caregivers. 

 

1. Keep to a schedule

I think we can all attest that a planned day goes faster than a day spent trying to brainstorm things to do. The reason why is because keeping to a schedule makes us feel more productive and gives us a better sense of purpose.

However, amid this pandemic, many find it hard to keep to a schedule. Social isolation can be challenging because you feel like you’ve been given an opportunity to be deliberate in your activities, but oftentimes we find that we’re rushing from one task to another. Essentially, we’re doing things because we feel like we have to, not because we want to. This is when organizing your day and finding proactive things to do come in play.  

Carolyn recommends “trying something new” on your mental list of things you’ve been wanting to do, but haven’t had quite the time for.

“Try to spend at least five minutes a day at it,” and then see how it goes.  

 

2. Stay informed

The news can be a main source of anxiety for some caregivers, but it’s important to stay up-to-date on things changing in the community and updates with support programs. You can either limit your use of how you receive news or have a friend or family member update you on important changes. Just make sure you’re not fixating on the news. Devote some time to getting that information and then continue with your day.  

Carolyn says staying connected can also help provide ideas during this difficult time: “It’s a great way to figure out what others are doing to cope.”

Check out our website and our social media channels to stay informed on the status of home care and support programs in your region.

 

3. Don’t feel guilty

Our Day Program staff understand the difficulties of being a caregiver, which is why our respite programs exist. During this period of social isolation, caregivers that were once receiving respite every now and then are now working round-the-clock again.  

“Self-compassion is important,” Carolyn stresses. “Give yourself a break, and don’t shy away from your feelings because they will bottle up and contribute to more stress.”

“We’re in unprecedented times. We all need a break every now and then. So find something they enjoy and step away, don’t feel guilty, and go find that time for yourself because you’re only able to provide the best care if you’re healthy.”

Keep in mind, doing nothing can also be productive because it gives you time to stop and recharge, otherwise you might experience  caregiver burnout.

 

4. Stay active 

Carolyn can’t stress enough the importance of getting fresh air and your heart pumping: “Exercise is good for your lungs, muscles, and also for emotional well-being,” she says. “It’s important to keep moving to get those endorphins pumping.”

She recommends searching for resources online that work to your and your loved one’s ability. “You can try home workouts or just simply walk outside and get some fresh air with your loved one.”

 

5. Find meaning

Finding ways to stay engaged and keep busy is already hard for yourself, so it’s even more difficult trying to keep others occupied.

That being said, finding meaning throughout the day is a great way to lift the mood. “Use this time to engage with your loved one, find a way to connect with them,” Carolyn says. This could be by way of a project, looking through photo albums, singalongs, or something that has been quite special between you and your loved one.

“Find the moments where you can connect with your loved one that’s meaningful. Follow their lead and find what interests them.”

This might also be the time to get creative or simply slow down your day. Oftentimes we’re rushing to fill our free time with chores or screen time, but it’s okay to be bored together. This deliberate time of reflection may be one way to find meaning.

 

6. Connect

We may be more physically isolated than usual, but we’re not completely socially isolated. Take time to reach out to friends or family, which may give you some time to step away. 

“Hopefully this is once in a lifetime, but we have to find ways to adapt and take care of ourselves,” Carolyn explains. “As a caregiver, you need to reach out to your network of people during this time because if you’re not healthy, you’re not able to protect your loved one.”

Keep in mind, we’re all in this together. We may be physically isolated from the world, but so is everyone else. We’re all doing our part to protect the most vulnerable population and looking to share experiences and find the time to connect to others.

“If you lack a strong network, feel free to reach out to Carefor because we have lots of support systems, tools and activities.” Carefor is working with technology that has allowed us like never before to connect with people who need our support.

 

7. Live in the moment

Living in the moment is always easier said than done, but it’s more important than ever to take each day as it comes. These times won’t last forever, so stay positive as much as possible, but don’t shy away from your emotions.

“Being a round-the-clock caregiver can wear on a person and it’s okay to admit that. You’re doing amazing things trying to care for that person, and now you have to give more, but you are doing the best you can during this difficult time. Don’t be so hard on yourself,” Carolyn says.

 

 

Back problems are among the most common chronic conditions in Canada, affecting people no matter their activity level.

For National Injury Prevention Day, staying safe at home means more than physical distancing, it means keeping yourself well and healthy while engaging in your regular routine.

To help you do so, Carefor’s physiotherapists offer advice on ways to prevent straining or injuring your back at home.

1. Using your cellphone/tablet

There’s no denying it – we’re getting way more screen time than we used to. But without it, we’d be disconnected from our loved ones and the rest of the world.

Carefor physiotherapist Nanda Nair explains how to use your cellphone or tablet while maintaining good posture and preventing strain and stress on your joints.

2. Gardening

The warm season is upon us, meaning it’s time to put our green thumb to another test. As we tend to our garden, it’s equally as important to take care of ourselves.

Carefor physiotherapist Anupriya Anand explains the best positions, warmups, and basic equipment needed to reduce the risk of a back injury.

3. Lifting

Whether you’re unloading groceries, cleaning out your basement, or simply picking something up, knowing the proper lifting techniques is key to preventing strain or an injury.

Carefor physiotherapist Karen Van Dijk explains just that and a few other tips to keep in mind.

4. Cooking

Spending more time at home likely means more home-cooked meals. Maneuvering around your kitchen is second nature to you, but here are a few tips to always keep in mind.

If you’re standing for a long time, consider wearing supportive shoes. That said, take breaks when needed or sit while you prep. Try standing as close as possible to the counter and bring the food close to your body to maintain proper posture and avoid hunching forward.

5. At-home exercise

Although proper lifting techniques, footwear, and good posture are important to minimizing your risk of a back injury, keeping your body strong and healthy is just as important.

Nursing students from the University of Ottawa, with the help of Carefor physiotherapist Matthew Claxton, have compiled six simple chair exercises that will help to improve balance and strength.