Ontario’s funding of respite services to help families care for loved ones makes a huge difference to lives in Guelph and Wellington County.
On April 4 as part of the recognition of National Family Caregiver Day, Guelph Sandals thanked people in both Guelph and Wellington County for the work they do every day to care for their loved ones.
Caregivers are often those who take on the unpaid role of helping a family member or loved one with their physical or cognitive condition, injury or chronic life-limiting illness.
According to a press release issued by Sandals office, Ontario increased support for people caring for their loved ones at home in Guelph and Wellington County, by increasing access to respite services.
The additional funding from the province has allowed for the creation of a respite care program for residents across Waterloo Wellington.
As a result,about 200 families with the highest needs were supported this year, receiving more than 30,000 hours of respite care.
This has been a great help to families like Audrey, 88, and her husband Bill, 96, who have been happily married for over 65 years. According to Audrey, Bill’s fall last summer changed both their lives. No longer able to carry out day-to-day tasks on his own and suffering from Alzheimer’s, Bill required support twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. It was then that Audrey became a full-time caregiver to her husband with a goal of keeping him at home as long as possible.
Through the Waterloo Wellington Community Care Access Centre, Audrey receives respite support four days a week. This support ensures Audrey gets the rest she needs, can leave the home to run errands or connect with friends for a visit or a game of bridge.
“Knowing Bill is receiving the care he needs gives me great peace of mind and the chance to also take care of myself. I am so thankful for the support. Bill is much happier being at home and that means the world to me,” shared Audrey.
Ontario’s support has allowed for approximately 600,000 additional hours of respite services for caregivers across the province this year.
Supporting patients and their caregivers is part of the government’s plan to build a better Ontario through its Patients First: Action Plan for Health Care. This plan is providing patients with faster access to the right care, better home and community care, the information they need to stay healthy and a health care system that’s sustainable for generations to come.
“Caring for loved ones at home during times of cognitive impairment, injury or terminal illness can be exceedingly stressful and without some respite from the constant care needed can contribute to health problems for the caregiver. This respite will help refresh the caregiver and enable continued care for their loved one” Sandals said.
“Local residents have told me how important supports are to help them care for and keep their loved ones at home, where they want to be. Family caregivers are a vital member of a patient’s care team and supporting them is incredibly important to a patient’s health and wellbeing. Now with a dedicated respite program, more caregivers are able to access supports sooner,” said Bruce Lauckner, CEO, Waterloo Wellington Local Health Integration Network (LHIN)
QUICK FACTS
– Informal caregivers represent approximately one in five Ontarians.
– The province has invested $954,800 to better support caregivers in the Waterloo Wellington LHIN.
