According to the latest Canadian census, people 85 years of age and older are the fastest-growing age group in the country.
In B.C., people aged 65 and older comprise just over 20 per cent of the population, making it more important than ever for families to facilitate and secure current or eventual care for their aging loved ones.
In partnership with Bayshore HealthCare B.C., we explore what kinds of services are available and who might benefit from assisted living services.
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A specialized approach
A 2020 study from the National Institute on Ageing and the Canadian Medical Association indicated that more than 93 per cent of B.C. seniors want to stay in their home as they age and are reluctant to give up things like their independence, their neighbours and their gardens.
Seniors may, however, still need additional medical care or personal services their own families are unable to provide for them, which is where Bayshore HealthCare can help.
“Most people love their homes, the memories, the familiarity, and they feel safe and comfortable there,” says Bayshore HealthCare area director Sarah Macey. “A move is fairly permanent, costly and a huge change of lifestyle. There are restricted visits, potentially limited access to an outdoor space, and many other people to have to tolerate. So if there is an option to stay and bring the care to you, then maybe moving can be postponed for the time being.”
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Bayshore HealthCare provides an array of services, from travelling nurses, who can help with medications and specific ailments, to personal care workers, who help with things like getting in and out of the tub safely, to companion care workers, who help with tasks like light cleaning, cooking, laundry and outings.
In order to create each customized, individual approach, Bayshore sends a nurse clinical manager to the home for a consult. “We go through all the details, what the client preferences are, and what challenges the client is facing. We put that all down in the care plan so that when the caregivers go in, they have clear direction on what the expectations are,” explains Nafisa Abdul, Bayshore’s manager of clinical practice and a licensed practical nurse.
“Sometimes there’s a lot of denial when it comes to elderly patients receiving care, especially when they live independently in their homes,” Abdul adds. “We can start off slowly and then pick up as they get used to it, because it’s all about getting used to your caregiver and building that rapport and that relationship.”
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Adapting now for the future
While Bayshore doesn’t offer live-in caregivers and there are guidelines as to what the company can and cannot do, Abdul says the initial phone consultation and in-person visit, which are both free, are key to getting everyone on the same page.
“It’s important for the person receiving the care to know who is coming and to build that relationship with their caregiver,” she says. “It’s also important for our caregivers to learn the care needs for that client. That way, they are able to identify if a client is declining and needs a reassessment, or if there’s any other concerns that need to be addressed. We usually refrain from having different caregivers in the home every week, because then there’s no continuity of care.”
Macey explains that even having someone come in and help seniors on a companion care level as they age is beneficial in the long run in case there is a big event, like a fall or pneumonia, that changes a person’s ability to do what they used to do.
“The gentlest way to start getting care in the home is to do it before it is needed,” she says. “Start having someone in for cleaning, maybe they can make a sandwich before they leave, and offer to go for a walk together if the weather is nice. This bridges the time until this person is needed for more personal care and more often. They can become familiar with the way people like to do things and it feels less intrusive. It’s always about independence and maintaining dignity.”
For more information, visit Bayshore HealthCare B.C.