Navigating Long-Term Care and Ontario Health atHome

Getting started on your search for a long-term care home can be daunting. It’s a big decision that is often made during a stressful time. While Elderado makes it easy to narrow your long-term care options to the homes that are the best fit, how do you begin the process of applying for long-term care? You need to contact Ontario Health atHome.

What is Ontario Health atHome?

Ontario Health atHome offer services in the form of:

• Comprehensive care through needs assessment, care planning, and coordination for post-acute, and long-stay patients, including emergency responses and placement into specialized care settings.
• Direct in-home services facilitated by care coordinators, including assessment, eligibility determination, service authorization, and coordination of various therapies, nursing, and support services to aid transitions and manage care plans.
• Direct care encompassing a range of professional health services such as occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech-language pathology, dietetics, and nursing, including specialized care and medical assistance in dying.
• Support for in-home care extends to arranging medical supplies, equipment, and drug benefits for eligible persons, as well as training for caregivers to assist with or provide specific services.
• Admission processes for long-term care homes are managed, assessing need and eligibility.
• Educational support services provided to children with special needs in public and private schooling, including necessary medical supplies and equipment.

In 2024 Home and Community Care Support Services (HCCSS) was rebranded Ontario Health atHome. In 2021, Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs) were rebranded as Home and Community Care Support Services (HCCSS). Ontario Health atHome is funded and regulated by the Ministry of Health and is directed by a Board of Directors chosen by the provincial government.

How can Ontario Health atHome help?

One of Ontario Health atHome's core services is their care coordination, ensuring patients receive the vital services and supports to thrive at every health care phase. This includes providing information, conducting health assessments, creating care plans, and facilitating connections to community services or long-term care homes, all personalized to meet individual needs. Care coordinators, equipped with a broad range of expertise in areas like nursing, social work, occupational therapy, and speech therapy, serve as vital links between patients, their families, and the wider health care system. Care coordinators ensure seamless communication and support across various settings, including hospitals, schools, and homes. By developing customized care plans, these professionals work alongside primary care providers and other health specialists to modify care as needed and connect patients with additional community resources, enhancing their recovery and overall well-being.

To get referred with a care coordinator, call Ontario Health atHome at 310-2222 (no area code required) or visit a local branch near you. You may call for yourself or call on behalf of a loved one or friend that has given you consent. If the perspective long-term care resident in question is unable to give consent, then the substitute decision maker who holds Power of Attorney for Personal Care may make the decision on their behalf.

Care coordinators determine your eligibility for placement into a long-term care home by conducting a multi-part assessment. This assessment consists of capacity, functional, behavioural assessment, and a health assessment. Ontario Health atHome will use this information to assess your eligibility into long-term care and level of need as you may be able to get by through other forms of care such as home care with community support.

How much does Long-Term Care cost?

Personal and nursing care costs in long-term care is covered by the Ontario government, however, residents at a long-term home are required to pay for accommodation and meals. As of July 1, 2024 the maximum fees for long-term care set by the Ministry of Long-Term Care is as follows:

Basic - $2,036.40

Semi-Private - $2,455.24

Private - $2,909.36

This cost does not include fees for additional services such as internet, cable TV and transportation.

Long-Term Care Rate Reduction Program

The Long-Term Care Rate Reduction Program is available if you are unable to cover the cost of long-term care. The Long-Term Care Rate Reduction Program only applies to Basic accommodations – even if a home doesn’t have basic accommodations, or non are available. Eligible for the Rate Reduction Program is as follows:

• If you are 65 or over; you may qualify for Old Age Security(OAS)
• If you are 65 or over, you may qualify for Guaranteed Income Supplement (if you’re age 65 or older)
• If you are under 65, Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)

You are required to re-apply every year for a rate reduction.

More information on rate reduction calculations can be found on the Ontario Health atHome website.

Next steps in Applying for Long-Term Care

To qualify a placement into a long-term care home, you must:

• Be 18 years old or older.
• Own a valid Ontario Health Card
• Have health care needs that cannot be met with any combination of caregiving, care in your home, or care in your community.
• Have health care needs that can be met in a Long‐Term Care Home

Upon being deemed eligible, you will have to provide a shortlist of up to five homes in order of preference and will be placed into a waitlist for these homes.

Compare long-term care homes with Elderado

You can use Elderado to compare every long-term care home in Ontario - click HERE to get started. Information about long-term care home’s used to be fragmented across multiple websites including Ontario.ca, Ontario Health atHome, Public Reporting on LTC, HQ Ontario, the homes own webpage, YouTube, and Google Reviews. Elderado simplified the process of comparing homes by combining the most valuable information from all of these resources into one place.

With Elderado you can search anywhere in Ontario, and filter your options by care services, languages of care, cultural designations, and more.

When comparing homes you can review video tours, inspection reports, sample menus, activity calendars, room layouts, HQ Ontario stats, and Google Reviews.

You can also contact long-term care homes directly from their page on Elderado to ask questions or schedule a tour.

We want to help simplify the process of finding the right long-term care home so you can spend less time looking for information, and more time with your loved ones.

What should you consider when comparing long-term care homes?

Everyone’s situation is unique, and it should be treated as such. With that being said, for most of us the top priority when considering homes is whether they can provide the care that is needed. After care, priorities are largely individual.

Location is typically near the top of most people’s priority list. Is the long-term care home in a location where it’s easy for friends or family to visit? This might mean it’s in the community where you are already living, or it could mean moving to a home closer to loved ones.

Language is also very important, especially if dementia or Alzheimer’s is a concern. Being in an environment that speaks your native tongue allows you to remain independent longer. It can also make it easier to adjust to your new surroundings.

Matching the cultural designation of a long-term care home with the lifestyle you’ve been living can help make the transition to long-term care easier. In a culturally designation long-term care home the meals and activities are tailored to the culture, and many of the residents will be from that culture.

Activity calendars and sample menus give a glimpse into day-to-day life at the long-term care home. Google Reviews & HQ Ontario stats both provide an idea of how a home is performing. And a video tour is a great way to get a sense of the environment and feel in the home.

Despite being able to compare long-term care homes on Elderado, we recommend touring your top choices in person to get the best understanding of what life is like in the home. You can contact long-term care homes directly through Elderado on their individual pages.

Waitlists and wait-times for long-term care

The waitlist represents the number of people waiting for an available space in their preferred bed type and specific long-term care home. This means that a person can be on multiple waitlists. Each person on the waitlist is assigned a priority category. The categories are as follows:

• Category 1: This category is for individuals requiring urgent placement into long-term care facilities due to the inability to meet their care needs at home or for those currently hospitalized during a hospital crisis. It also includes residents of a long-term care home that is scheduled to close within 12 weeks.
• Category 2: This category encompasses individuals aiming to be reunited with their spouses or partners who are already living in a long-term care home, provided they meet the necessary care and eligibility criteria.
• Category 3A: This category covers individuals awaiting admission to a long-term Care Home that caters to specific religious, ethnic, or cultural groups. It includes those with significant care needs who can receive support at home until a placement is available, individuals in hospitals awaiting long-term care, and current long-term care residents looking for transfer to their preferred facility.
• Category 3B: Individuals in this category are also waiting for a long-term Care Home serving specific religious, ethnic, or cultural communities. This group can manage their care needs at home with assistance, though they face longer waiting periods for placement.
• Category 4A: Similar to Category 3A, this category includes people with substantial care requirements who are supported at home while awaiting a bed, those in hospitals in need of long-term care, and long-term care residents seeking transfer to a facility of choice.
• Category 4B: This group consists of individuals managing their care needs at home with support services, experiencing longer wait times for long-term care placement, akin to Category 3B.
• Veteran: This category is designated for veterans applying for placement in a Long-term Care Home that offers Veteran Priority Access Beds

Your priority category will have a significant impact on how long you can expect to remain on the waitlist. People in the highest (most urgent) categories are offered spaces that become available first. This means that someone who is assigned to Category 3A will need to wait until everyone in Category 1 & 2 is moved off the waitlist for the same bed type in the same long-term care home before a space would be available to them.

Placement Offer

After making your list of up to five long-term care homes and being put on a waitlist, the next steps would be:

• Responding to a placement offer, a response must be made within 24 hours
• If accepted, you will have up to 5 days to move in
• If your offer is not for your first choice you can accept the offer and move in but choose to remain on the waiting list for your first choice

Failure to respond, rejecting a placement offer or failing to move-in within 5 days will mean the removal from every waiting list you’re on. A 12-week waiting period will follow before you can reapply.

Other Services from Ontario Health atHome

Perhaps you are hoping to remain in your home for the time being, but could use some help. Ontario Health atHome can also asses you for home care services. When you contact Ontario Health atHome for home care services they will evaluate your care requirements, assess if you qualification for services, and if you qualify - create a care plan tailored to your needs. Should you not meet the criteria for home care services, Ontario Health atHome can offer guidance or refer you to alternative resources more aligned with your needs.

Home care services may include nursing care to assist with medications, bandage changes, wound cleaning, and recovery from injuries or health issues. Physiotherapy services can offer support for back pain, mobility challenges, circulation issues, pain relief, and relaxation. Occupational therapy cab help simplify daily activities and improve mobility within your home, while speech-language pathology can provide support for seniors struggling with speech or comprehension. Social workers are available to assist caregivers in managing stress and help families navigate conflicts, and nutrition experts can assess eating habits to develop healthy eating plans. Additionally, personal support services from a personal support worker (PSW) may be available to aid with everyday living activities such as washing, bathing, mouth care, hair care, skin care, mobility assistance, dressing, eating, and toileting.

For those also receiving personal support services or needing constant supervision due to cognitive impairments or brain injuries, homemaking services can be accessed. These include housecleaning, laundry, shopping, banking, bill payments, menu planning, and meal preparation, along with child care, ensuring comprehensive support for a healthier, more manageable daily routine.

Referral for home care can be made on your own, or anyone you consent to contact Ontario Health atHome. To start the application process call 310-2222 (no area code required). These services are publicly funded and will be at no cost to you if you qualify. To determine whether you qualify, contact Ontario Health atHome and speak with a care-coordinator.

What’s the application process for home care?

When you seek home care services from Ontario Health atHome, a care coordinator will initially evaluate your needs and check your eligibility for their services, which may include a home visit for a thorough assessment.

Ontario Health atHome will determine your qualification for government-funded services, considering your specific needs and available community resources, and might direct you to other local care providers if necessary. If eligible, Ontario Health atHome collaborate with you and any person you choose to develop a personalized home care plan, reflecting your preferences influenced by ethnic, spiritual, linguistic, familial, and cultural factors.

The care plan is enacted by Ontario Health atHome’s staff or through affiliated service providers, with arrangements made for scheduled care visits.

Should your situation or needs evolve, your care plan can be reviewed and adjusted by your case manager or care coordinator, who remains your point of contact for updates or concerns regarding your care.

In Conclusion

Ontario Health atHome provides a range of services for anyone seeking support for themselves or a loved one. If you are looking for elder care support you should connect with Ontario Health atHome at 310-2222 to speak to a care coordinator.