Latest news with #seniorcare
CTV News
2 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
Two long-term care homes in Barrie undergoing major expansion and upgrades
Construction is officially underway across two long-term care homes in Barrie. The Grove Park Home for Senior Citizens and the Village of Innis Landing long-term care home is the dynamic duo undergoing a construction funding subsidy top-up. Both care homes are part of the government's commitment to build 58,000 new and upgraded long-term beds in Ontario. 'As Ontario continues to grow, our government is making historic investments to protect families and their loved ones,' said Natalia Kusendova-Bashta, Minister of Long-Term Care. 'Today's (Monday) announcement is great news for Barrie and will ensure that 337 residents will get the care they need, in modern and safe homes.' The Grove Park Home for Senior Citizens is upgrading 62 of its existing beds and adding two new beds, reaching a total of 145 beds in the home. The province says it has plans to fulfill all nursing call systems, improve fire detection and suppression systems and introduce new monitoring features to ensure resident safety. The home located at 234 Cook Street will also house a café and community hub space, with mechanical lifts added to resident rooms. The Village of Innis Landing project will see the redevelopment of the Coleman Care Centre. The new home is adding 80 beds for a total of 192 beds. The province says the care home situated on 800 Yonge Street will include expansive common spaces to support a variety of care and recreational programming, along with various opportunities for residents to engage with each other and visitors. 'Today's announcement ensures that our seniors will be able to age with dignity and the care they need, in the community they love. By upgrading these existing facilities, residents will be able to choose care in places they know and trust while still receiving the qualify of care they have come to expect, said Doug Downey MPP, Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte.
CBS News
5 days ago
- Health
- CBS News
Pittsburgh-area volunteers help older adults overcome social isolation
Local volunteers are helping older adults overcome social isolation. Though the temperature outside on Friday felt like it was well into the 90s, indoors at the LifeSpan Mon Valley Senior Center in McKeesport, it was Christmas in July, as dozens of seniors came out to share a meal, a good time, and break away from their social isolation. Kannu Sahni, the vice president of community affairs with Highmark Health and Allegheny Health Network, one of the organizations sponsoring the gathering, says that social isolation is a real issue. "I think COVID kind of exacerbated it and made it very apparent to everyone, but we are seeing that social isolation is the leading cause of mental health issues amongst our seniors," Sahni said. Luckily, AHN, along with the Allegheny County Area Agency on Aging, is meeting this problem head-on. Not only do they partner for events like this one that get people out of the house, but they also spearhead the volunteer Senior Companion Program, which goes directly into people's homes. "There are over 350 older adults who have been paired with Senior Companions," said Dr. Shannah Gilliam, the Director of Aging Services at the Allegheny County Department of Human Services. "They come, they visit, they play games, they spend time, they talk, sometimes they might help them clean up a little bit around the house, but it is really just making a friend." Part of the event was filling up care packages for Senior Companions to take on their house calls. Michele Petit-Hammond from East McKeesport says she has been a Senior Companion for years. She says that it makes her feel good to show people that they are not alone. "It is a great thing to do for your lonely and alone senior family who need somebody to talk to or even need to go for a walk or someone to engage or having a friend," said Petit-Hammond. "Everybody needs somebody to talk to," she added. Senior Companions is always looking for volunteers to go out into the community. People interested in the program, either as a volunteer or recipient, can contact SeniorLine for more information at (412) 350-5460 or this email address.
Globe and Mail
6 days ago
- Health
- Globe and Mail
Nest And Care Strengthens Its Commitment to Exceptional Senior Home Care in Bethesda, MD
Leading Provider of In-Home Senior Care in Bethesda, MD, Continues to Support Families and Their Loved Ones Bethesda, MD - Nest And Care, a trusted leader in senior home care, reaffirms its dedication to providing exceptional in-home care services in Bethesda, MD. Under the leadership of Kat Villanueva, the company continues to set the gold standard for compassionate, personalized care, offering seniors the support they need to age comfortably at home while giving families peace of mind. As the need for high-quality senior care grows, Nest And Care remains committed to helping families navigate the challenges of aging with dignity and confidence. The company's team of highly trained caregivers delivers tailored care solutions designed to meet each client's unique needs, ensuring seniors can thrive in the safety and familiarity of their own homes. 'At Nest And Care, we recognize that choosing care for a loved one is one of life's most important decisions,' said Kat Villanueva, Founder and CEO. 'Our mission is to go beyond basic care—to provide companionship, support, and a sense of security that allows seniors and their families to feel truly at ease.' The company offers a comprehensive range of services, including assistance with daily activities, medication management, meal preparation, transportation, and specialized care for conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer's. Through individualized care plans, Nest And Care ensures that every senior receives the personalized attention they need to maintain their independence and quality of life. For families in Bethesda seeking a reliable and compassionate senior care provider, Nest And Care continues to be the trusted choice. With a reputation built on excellence, professionalism, and genuine care, the company remains a pillar of support for the community. For more information about Nest And Care and its senior home care services in Bethesda, MD, visit Media Contact Company Name: Nest And Care Contact Person: Kat Villanueva Email: Send Email Phone: +1 213 448 9798 Address: 10411 Motor City Dr Suite 325 City: Bethesda State: Maryland 20817 Country: United States Website:
Globe and Mail
7 days ago
- Health
- Globe and Mail
Collaborative Home Care Continues as a Leading Provider of Quality Companion Care in Southport, CT.
Collaborative Home Care reaffirms its role as a leading provider of companion care in Southport, CT. The agency is dedicated to helping seniors live independently with dignity through personalized, compassionate support. By offering emotional connection, assistance with daily tasks, and custom care plans, their caregivers enhance quality of life for clients while providing peace of mind for families. Southport, CT - Collaborative Home Care today announced its ongoing commitment to serving the Southport community as a premier provider of professional companion care services. The agency continues to build on its reputation for excellence by focusing on personalized, compassionate support that enhances the quality of life for seniors and provides peace of mind for their families. A primary benefit of the services offered by Collaborative Home Care is the significant improvement in a senior's emotional well-being. The dedicated caregivers provide meaningful social interaction and friendship, helping to alleviate the feelings of loneliness and isolation that are common among the elderly. This focus on genuine connection is a cornerstone of their Southport companion care model, ensuring that clients not only receive physical assistance but also crucial emotional support to thrive in their own homes. Furthermore, the agency's services are designed to help seniors maintain their independence safely and comfortably. Caregivers assist with a variety of daily tasks, including light housekeeping, meal preparation, medication reminders, and running errands. By providing reliable support with these activities, the companion home care that Southport residents trust allows seniors to age in place with dignity, delaying the need for residential care facilities. "Our mission has always been centered on more than just basic care; it's about building trusting relationships and becoming a true extension of the family," said Bryan Knust, founder of Collaborative Home Care. "We are deeply committed to the Southport community and feel a profound sense of responsibility to provide care that is not only high-quality but also delivered with the utmost compassion and respect for each individual's unique needs." Collaborative Home Care distinguishes itself through a rigorous process for selecting and training caregivers. Each companion is thoroughly vetted and trained to meet the highest standards of professionalism and empathy. The agency's approach is rooted in creating customized care plans that are collaboratively developed with clients and their families, ensuring that all aspects of a senior's well-being are addressed. As the demand for quality in-home support continues to grow, Collaborative Home Care remains dedicated to being the trusted resource for families in Southport. The agency's unwavering focus on client satisfaction and compassionate service solidifies its role as a leader in the local home care industry. For more information about Collaborative Home Care and its companion care in Southport, CT, please visit their website at About Collaborative Home Care: Collaborative Home Care is a premier provider of non-medical companion care services dedicated to serving families in Southport, CT, and the surrounding areas. Founded by Bryan Knust, the agency operates on a philosophy of delivering compassionate, respectful, and personalized care that enhances the quality of life for seniors. By focusing on customized care plans and employing a team of highly trained and empathetic caregivers, Collaborative Home Care is committed to helping clients maintain their independence and dignity in the comfort of their own homes, ensuring peace of mind for their loved ones. Media Contact Company Name: Collaborative Home Care Contact Person: Bryan Knust Email: Send Email Phone: +12035422808 Address: 777 West Putnam Avenue City: Greenwich State: CT Country: United States Website:
CBC
23-07-2025
- Health
- CBC
A crisis foretold: 3 decades of warnings on N.B.'s aging population
Social Sharing The nursing home wait-list crisis hitting some of New Brunswick's biggest hospitals this summer may be setting new records, but it should not come as a surprise. Governments have known for decades the province's population was aging, and they would have to cope with an ever-growing number of seniors needing care. "We're well behind the eight ball and we're trying to play catch up," Premier Susan Holt acknowledged at a recent news conference. As early as 1991, a report warned that the province had to get serious about in-home care services. The report, Enhancing Seniors' Independence: Building for the Future, drafted under Frank McKenna's Liberal government, projected the seniors' share of the population soaring from nine per cent in 1976 to a then-staggering 13.1 per cent by 2006. Last year, they made up 22.9 per cent. Without a policy shift, "inappropriate admissions" to hospitals and nursing homes would fill up available beds — a costly option compared to home care, according to the 34-year-old report. WATCH | 'There is no political will': 3 decades of warnings: A nursing home wait-list crisis that everyone saw coming 1 hour ago Government reports dating back more than 30 years warned that an aging New Brunswick population required a shift to more home care. Both parties have known for the last 20 to 30 years that this tsunami was coming," said Florence Parks, a 76-year-old Saint John resident and former nursing home employee who contacted CBC News this week. "Nobody did anything about it." Holt lamented at her July 17 news conference "a history of not moving quickly enough to transform how we deliver care in New Brunswick. And so we have a perfect storm." Earlier in the week, Horizon issued a public plea for the province to grant "critical state admission prioritization status" for more than 650 hospital patients who did not need acute care but were waiting for placement in a long-term care facility such as a nursing home. "It causes emergency department wait times to grow longer. It forces care to be delivered in hallways, dining areas, lounges, and other makeshift spaces — conditions that are far from ideal for patients, families, and staff," CEO Margaret Melanson said. Holt's government agreed to the measure for 30 days. The premier said the estimates of how many people need care in nursing homes and special-care homes "has increased and increased and increased" faster than the creation of beds in such facilities — despite the trend being well-known for a long time. "We live in an aging society and with that brings different challenges," Progressive Conservative premier Bernard Lord said during the 2006 election campaign. "Seniors need more senior care." He was visiting the construction site of a nursing home outside Saint John, a project that had been delayed multiple times. He said the new home would "ease some of the pressure from what is often called bed-blockers" in New Brunswick hospitals. But Lord didn't promise any additional new nursing homes in that campaign. Nor did the leader who defeated him, Liberal Shawn Graham. "Home care has to come first and foremost, but will they fix it?" said Cecile Cassista, executive director of the Coalition for Seniors and Nursing Home Residents' Rights. "I've been saying that for 20 years: 'You need to fix it.' And they're not fixing it." "There's no political will. If there was, they'd do it. They make lots of promises during elections. But there is no will to fix the issue. They know there's an issue, but they only jump on it when there's a crisis." Last week, Holt blamed the Progressive Conservative government of Blaine Higgs for not moving fast enough on primary care to head off the pressure facing hospitals this summer. And home care "hasn't really had any attention over the last number of years," she said. The 1991 McKenna government report forecasting an aging population and calling for more home care, was the first of many. But leaders often focused their promises elsewhere. In 2006, Lord and Graham sparred over who would do more, and who would move faster, to exempt seniors' assets from the calculation of what they pay toward nursing home costs — in other words, to put a larger share of the expense on taxpayers. A subsequent report by the province's auditor-general concluded such policy changes contributed to huge increases to the waiting list for nursing home care. Population of seniors is over 196,000 A 2008 Graham government report on senior care, "Be Independent. Longer," also called for expanded home care. That report underestimated how much the population was aging, projecting that 188,300 New Brunswickers would be 65 years old or older by 2026. But Statistics Canada estimated last year the number was already above 196,000. In 2012, PC premier David Alward said the potential cost of caring for a larger and larger cohort of seniors kept him awake at night. Alward commissioned a report that called for New Brunswickers to "fundamentally change the way they view aging and the role of older adults." A 2017 report for the Liberal government of Brian Gallant also warned of an aging population. It called for more provincial support for home care programs, which it said was in "a sorry stage." At that time, Horizon hospitals were looking after an average of 466 alternative-level-of-care patients — people who could have been in nursing homes or special care homes. The number increased to 480 in 2018-19, dipped for three years during the COVID-19 pandemic, and was pushing 500 in 2022-23. It surpassed 600 this year. One government attempted bold action during that time: the PC government of Blaine Higgs launched a reform in 2019 eliminate night-time emergency care at six small hospitals and turn them into alternative-level-of-care facilities with a total of 120 beds. But the ER reductions were so unpopular, Higgs backed down within days. Expansion of Nursing Homes Without Walls program Last week, when the Holt government agreed to Horizon's request to put alternative-level-of-care patients at the top of the nursing home wait list, it was unable to say how many people might actually be transferred. On Monday, the province agreed to a similar request from the Vitalité Health Network for the Chaleur Regional Hospital in Bathurst. The Liberals hope an expansion of the Nursing Homes Without Walls program, put in place by Higgs, will make it easier for some seniors to remain in their homes — and make more beds available for transfers from hospitals. The program provides some nursing home-style services to seniors living in their own homes. "We're starting to see some of that work snowball a bit, but there's a lot more to be done," Holt said. She also acknowledged that the performance target she set for nursing homes in her state of the province speech in January may seem underwhelming. The goal is to keep the provincial waiting list exactly where it was at the time — 1,088 patients — until 2028. Given the growing number of seniors in need of care, even that isn't easy, Holt said. "The current demographic projections would see the number of people waiting in hospitals and waiting at home for those beds going up exponentially," she said. "And so for us, it was the the best we believed we could do was reduce that exponential increase, such that we were maintaining the list as is." That's not a great forecast for hospital administrators, but Holt said other initiatives, such as improvements to primary care, should ease the pressure further. And after more than three decades of warnings, simply preventing the problem from getting worse would represent a grim achievement.
