There's a new healthcare program in Orillia that aims to support local seniors with chronic conditions who want to age in place.
The new Bayshore Home Health Team Aging in Place support program began in May. Previously, it had been a successful program used in Montreal and Toronto.
Nurse lead Keara Sweet says the program focuses on small, nurse-led teams that provide holistic care and independence for seniors aging at home.
"Bayshore has kind of looked at demographics to see where heavy senior populations are," she explained. "The need for effective in-home care for the senior population is definitely here in our area."
Sweet says there aren't enough age-in-place solutions in the community to serve the many seniors who live in Orillia.
"A lot of people don't want to be in a facility," she said. "They want to stay in the comfort of their own home."
Sweet, 37, says a lot of home care clients in Orillia are currently going unserved due to a shortage of nurses.
"Our goal is to have no unmissed visits," she said. "If one of my personal support workers calls in, I live in the community and can step in to make sure clients get their care."
Sweet, a Patrick Fogarty Catholic Secondary School graduate, says seniors often prefer to stay on their own during their later years.
"It supports their autonomy," she said. "They are looking to maintain their quality of life, their independence, and they've established themselves in their own home surrounded by an environment that is comforting to them."
When their health starts to deteriorate, seniors often lose their connection with the community, Sweet says.
"I wouldn't also want to be struggling with having to relocate."
Nurses within the Aging in Place program are equipped to handle vitals monitoring, syringing, and immunizations. They can also help connect seniors with healthcare teams and additional support programs.
"I also have personal support workers that will go in that will help them with all of their activities and daily living," she said. "They can help with mobility, light housework, and providing care for other family members."
While there are government-funded assisted programs for seniors to age in place, Sweet says the Bayshore Home Health Team offers seniors a more personalized experience.
"I know all of my clients, I know all of their health-care needs, their goals, and I know their conditions," she said. "If they end up in the hospital, their discharges are going to be quicker because they already have a regulated professional that's willing to go out to their home and knows their care."
For seniors interested in the program, Sweet can be contacted at [email protected] or 705-325-6588.
"I'm happy to go out and have tea or coffee to chat with them or family members who want to know more," she said. "Having someone to stay connected with who can advocate for and with them is the optimal goal."
