Supports for Daily Living Program

Program Description

MICBA Forum Italia Community Services receives funds from Ontario Health to operate a Supports for Daily Living (SDL) Program aimed at providing support for seniors who want and are able to continue living in their own homes.  Supports for Daily Living provides high-needs seniors residing in the community with the availability of 24-hour practical assistance with the essential activities of daily living that one cannot perform due to age related physical limitations or impairments.   The Supports for Daily Living program is aimed at reducing unnecessary stays in hospital for seniors once their acute care phase is concluded and provides an alternative to Long Term Care facilities while enabling a senior to maintain their independence and integration in their communities.

The SDL model includes multiple daily visits based on individual needs (approximately 1.5 hours per day) by trained personal support workers (PSWs) to meet, where possible, the preferred schedule of the client.
SDL is designed with a systems approach to provide clients with the right care, at the right time, and in the right place.

Target Population:

• Seniors 65 and older who require the availability of services throughout a 24-hour period and who meet the eligibility requirements

Location(s):

• 155 Forum Drive, Mississauga, ON L4Z 3M9
• 195 Forum Drive, Mississauga, ON L4Z 3M5

SDL services are not available to seniors residing in Retirement homes, Group Homes or Long Term Care facilities.

Program Staffing:

• Attendant services are provided by trained Personal Support Workers (unregulated healthcare providers)
• Trained Care Coordinators conduct standardized needs assessments and work with clients to develop individualized service plans.

Hours:

• The program operates 24/7/365
• Services are available both on a pre-scheduled and on-call basis as required/available

Cost to client:

• Services are offered at no cost for eligible clients

Services Features:

• Services are offered at no cost for eligible clients
• 24-hour urgent | on-call response
• 24-hour pre-scheduled services, 7 days a week, 365 days a year
• Safety checks (i.e. regular contact through intermittent visits)
• Non-medical services
• Skilled Personal Support Workers (PSWS)

Examples of urgent | on call responses included unexpected situations that require prompt attention (i.e. fall, vomiting, bowel, bladder incontinence, etc.)

Scope of Services

SDL services include non-medical personal support, medication reminders and assistance, safety checks/reassurance services, and essential homemaking when needed.

SDL Personal Support services include services used to assist with or supervise the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) such as:

• Washing/Bathing
• Hair Care
• Dressing/undressing
• Application of non-medicated creams or eye drops
• Transferring/Positioning
• Mouth care
• Assistance with eating
• Toileting
• Preventative skincare
• Transferring/Positioning
• Essential homemaking services
• Safety checks/reassurance services – telephone or in-person visits to monitor the safety and well-being of the client and their environment
• Help with pre-measure medications & medication reminders

SDL homemaking services include services used to assist in Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) as determined by the assessment. Essential homemaking services related to client personal care may include one or some of the following, depending upon assessment:

• Light meal preparation/clean-up after use
• Tidying up the bathroom/kitchen/bedroom after use
• Garbage disposal
• Changing bedding
• Light housekeeping
• Laundry

Clients should be advised that SDL services are NON-MEDICAL in nature and although the PSW staff is formally trained, they cannot diagnose or assess health and medical conditions.

Service Maximum

Persons receiving SDL services will not receive more than a combined program average of 1.5 hours per day of personal support, and homemaking.

Service Philosophy:

MICBA Forum Italia Community Services embraces and has adapted the fundamental concepts of the Independent Living Philosophy including the right of people to:

• Live with dignity in their chosen community
• Participate in all aspects of life
• Maintain control and make decisions about their life through ‘Directing Services’ – this includes:
  • ‘Right to Risk’–  the individual has the right to make his/her own choices and decision, even if those choices involve risk and failure
  • Assume all responsibilities associated with these rights

Directing Care and ‘Right to Risk’

The role of MICBA Forum Italia Community Services is to facilitate the resident’s wishes, with their inherent rights and associated risks, with living independently in the community. As such, Forum Italia will act in response to Consumer (or POA) direction but may prompt or alert Consumer to potential risks or decision points (as necessary).

MICBA Forum Italia Community Service is guided by the Health Care Consent Act in the event of any sudden change in cognitive status that affects a clients ability to make healthcare decisions.  In the event there is no SDM available and capacity is called into question, MICBA Forum Italia Community Service will call in a regulated health professional to evaluate and make a recommendation on the need for a capacity assessment.