Often, people with a disability require assistance to do things that other people take for granted – getting out of bed in the morning, showering and getting ready for the day. VHA provides in-home Attendant Services and employs over 100 workers who provide in excess of 100,000 attendant care hours annually throughout the Ottawa area.
These vital services enable people to remain at home and maintain their independence. The alternative for many would be institutions or Long-Term Care facilities.
Attendant Services – Outreach (in the community)
Attendant Outreach services are available to people residing in their own homes/apartments throughout the city of Ottawa. Services are provided on a pre-scheduled basis only. The program is funded by Ontario Health and there is no cost to you if you are eligible for services. VHA is the only provider of subsidized Attendant Outreach Services in the greater Ottawa area.
Attendant Outreach services provides non-medical assistance to adults and seniors with irreversible physical challenges including but not limited to arthritis, spinal cord injury, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, or chronic progressive disease such as Multiple Sclerosis and Muscular Dystrophy.
- Clients live in their own homes in the community, make their own decisions and can communicate their service needs to staff trained in the delivery of personal care.
- Physical care needs are provided by qualified Attendants and include non-medical personal support services that are available on a pre-scheduled basis only, between 6:00 am and 11:00 pm, seven days a week.
- Care coordination is provided by our team of social work and nurse supervisors who conduct standardized assessments and, in partnership with you, develop individualized service plans which are updated when your needs change. Types and amounts of assistance are limited by eligibility criteria and service maximums.
- Applications for service are accepted on an on-going basis.
Physical Care Needs:
We provide non-medical support for people who need pre-scheduled assistance with personal care between the hours of 6:00 am and 11 pm, such as:
- Personal hygiene
- Dressing, undressing
- Washing, bathing, showering, bed bath
- Assistance with medication
- Toileting and bladder care, including emptying and changing of leg and night bags, stoma care and maintenance of external catheter
- Bowel care including use of suppositories, digital stimulation and manual disimpaction, stoma care
- Mouth care
- Hair care
- Grooming, including shaving, make-up application
- Transferring, positioning, and turning
Wellness Assistance:
- Respiratory assistance (ventilator, BIPAP)
- Range of motion exercises
- Assistance with cough devices and cough therapy.
Applications:
To be eligible for Attendant Services, interested applicants must:
- Be insured under the Health Insurance Act of Ontario (ie. have a valid Ontario Health Card); and
- Be 16 years of age or older; and
- Have an irreversible physical disability and require physical assistance with the activities of daily living such as dressing, bathing, transferring and/or toileting; and
- Be able to communicate sufficiently; and
- Be able to travel throughout the community to have any medical/professional needs met by visiting your physician or other health professional(s).
How to Apply:
Applications for VHA’s Attendant Services are coordinated through a common application and centralized point of access for all individuals applying for Attendant Services in Eastern Ontario.
- Application For Attendant Service / Assisted Living
- Supplement A – Assistance With Additional Activities Of Daily Living
- Supplement B – Bariatric Assistance
- Supplement C – Respiratory / Breathing Assistance
- Supplement D – Nurturing Assistance
Assistance in completing the application can be found in the Application Guide.
To learn more and discuss your application for service, contact VHA’s Central Intake at 613-238-8420 or 1-877-818-0884.
Attendant Services – in a Supportive Housing setting
VHA Health & Home Support operates the largest Supportive Housing program in Eastern Ontario in six (6) different locations. Supportive Housing includes housing as well as assistance with physical care needs. The program is funded by Ontario Health and there is no cost for eligible applicants. Supportive Housing makes it possible for many adults with disabilities and seniors to live independently.
Supportive housing provides non-medical assistance to adults and seniors with irreversible physical challenges including but not limited to arthritis, spinal cord injury, spina bifida, or chronic progressive disease such as cerebral palsy or chronic progressive disease such as Multiple Sclerosis and Muscular Dystrophy.
- Clients live independently in an unsupervised environment, make their own decisions and are responsible for their affairs. Supportive Housing is for people who can communicate their service needs to staff trained in the delivery of personal care.
- Physical care needs are provided by non-medical staff (‘Attendants’) and include non-medical personal support services that are available on-site 24 hours a day to meet the care needs of clients, on a pre-scheduled or as needed basis.
- Rent subsidies may be available to those that qualify.
- Care coordination is provided by our team of social work and nurse supervisors who conduct standardized assessments and, in partnership with you, develop individualized service plans which are updated when your needs change.
- Applications for service and housing are accepted on an on-going basis.
Physical Care Needs:
Staff are available on-site 24 hours a day to meet all the physical care needs of clients, on a pre-booked or as needed basis. There is a VHA office at each Supportive Housing site. Each client’s flexibility is key to the success of booking services that coordinates the services provided to every client.
We provide non-medical support for people who need assistance with personal care for at least two (2) hours each day, such as:
- Personal hygiene
- Dressing, undressing
- Washing, bathing, showering, bed bath
- Assistance with medication
- Toileting and bladder care, including emptying and changing of leg and night bags, stoma care and maintenance of external catheter
- Bowel care including use of suppositories, digital stimulation and manual disimpaction, stoma care
- Mouth care
- Hair care
- Grooming, including shaving, make-up application
- Transferring, positioning and turning
Wellness Assistance:
- Respiratory assistance (ventilator, BIPAP)
- Range of motion exercises
- Assistance with cough devices and cough therapy.
Assisted Living Services:
In addition, we are able to assist with the clients’:
- Personal and household laundry
- Light housekeeping
- Meal preparation, cutting, serving and feeding
- Clean-up of specialized equipment, including wheelchairs, commode chairs, etc.
Rent Subsidies:
Rent geared to income with the assistance of rent subsidies may be available through the City of Ottawa’s Rent Supplement Program, Centretown Citizens’ Corporation, Cardinus Co-operative and Daly Co-operative. Our registered Social Worker is available to assist you with applying for a rent subsidy when you apply for our Supportive Housing program.
Applications:
To be eligible for Supportive Housing services, interested applicants must:
- Be insured under the Health Insurance Act of Ontario (ie. have a valid Ontario Health Card); and
- Be 16 years of age or older; and
- Have an irreversible physical disability and require physical assistance with the activities of daily living such as dressing, bathing, transferring and/or toileting; and
- Be able to communicate sufficiently; and
- Be able to travel throughout the community to have any medical/professional needs met by visiting your physician or other health professional(s).
How to Apply:
Applications for VHA’s Supportive Housing services are coordinated through a common application and centralized point of access for all individuals applying for Attendant Services in Eastern Ontario.
Assistance in completing the application can be found in the Application Guide.
To learn more and discuss your application for service, contact VHA’s Central Intake at 613-238-8420 or 1-877-818-0884.