Recommendations for People Looking for a Home

First, find out all you can about long-term care options. Visit these two websites to learn more:

• Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, “Seniors’ Care: Residences Offering Care”: www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/program/ltc/12_residential_mn.html
• Community Care Access Centres: www.ccac-ont.ca

Before making a final decision, visit each home you are considering. Ask yourself, Does this feel like home? Talk to people in the home — the administrator, staff, residents, the residents’ council and family council representatives. Ask questions, such as:

• Are there social and recreational programs to keep people engaged in the world and to help them fight depression and isolation?
• Are there menu options?
• Are residents who can’t get around on their own regularly moved by staff and supported by cushions, mattresses and other equipment in their beds and chairs, to prevent pressure ulcers?
• Does the home offer any therapies to keep residents as active as possible?

Checklists

It’s a good idea to use a checklist when assessing homes. See these four sites for checklists:

• Concerned Friends, “Long Term Care Homes Checklist”: www.concernedfriends.ca/Checklist.pdf
• Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, “Residential Care Checklist”: www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/program/ltc/29_pr_checklist.html
• Ontario Association of Non-Profit Homes and Services for Seniors: “Checklist of questions to consider when visiting homes”
  www.oanhss.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Consumers/AboutLongTermCare/default.htm#LTC7
• Ontario Long-Term Care Association, “3 Steps to Finding the Right ‘Fit’”: www.oltca.com/Library/Three Steps to Finding.pdf