First Nations and Inuit Home and Community Care Program - Annual
Report 2002-2003
Appendix 1: A Home and Community Care Primer
Basic Components
The following are basic components of Home and Community Care:
- provides services to people mainly in the home;
- provides services based on needs identified through a client
assessment;
- designed to help people keep their independence in their
own home and allow them to be close to their loved ones as
long as possible;
- provides care in a holistic manner that looks at a person's
physical, social, spiritual and emotional needs, recognizing
that each person is different and unique; and
- supports and improves the care provided by the family and
community but does not replace it.
Services
The services that make up Home and Community Care include:
Client Assessment
This is carried out through:
- speaking with the client and the client's family;
- speaking with the client's doctor and other care providers;
- review of client's health history;
- physical check up.
Case Management
This is the step after assessment to ensure that the plan for
care is right and is provided by the right caregiver at the right
time.
Home Care Nursing
- nursing care that is provided in a home or community setting;
- includes teaching client and client's family about self care;
- may include supervision of workers providing personal care
services.
Personal Care
- assistance with activities such as bathing, foot care, and
dressing
Home Support
- help with light housekeeping, laundry, and meal preparation
In-Home Respite Services
- care for the client while the family, who usually cares for
client, has a rest and it is not safe for the client to be left
alone
Target Clients
Persons of any age who have an assessed need who:
- have been discharged from a hospital;
- have an illness or disease requiring follow up care;
- are unable to live alone while waiting for care in a long
term care facility;
- have a disability requiring assistance to live on their own;
- need nursing care in the home; and/or
- choose to live at home instead of in a long-term care facility
as long as it is safe, affordable and services are available.
Others who may benefit from Home and Community Care include family
and friends who need support to continue to care for people in
the home.
Referral Process
Clients may refer themselves or they may be referred by family
members, friends, doctors, neighbours, or hospitals.
Service Providers
Home and Community Care services are provided mainly by registered
nurses, licensed practical nurses and certified home health aides/personal
care workers at the community level. Home health aides/personal
care workers should be supported and supervised by registered nurses.
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