Homecare services are provided in the home and assist people who have health problems, disabilities or who are convalescing from surgery or a hospital stay. Support is also provided to the family caregivers who offer continuous help to their family members. A disability may be the result of age, impairment, a physical illness, recent surgery, or even just a difficult situation. Examples include Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular problems, mobility problems, diabetes, etc. 

Homecare professionals assess your living situation at home and advise you on the appropriate resources. This assessment takes into account your capacities and resources. The CSSS  works closely with you, the client, as well as family, hospitals, day hospitals, day centers and community organizations. A homecare practitioner can be your guide to the health-care system and act as a resource person. 

Medical services

To receive medical services at home, the client must have a chronic loss of autonomy, have difficulty leaving the home and must be evaluated by a homecare professional. Homecare physicians perform medical check-ups, make diagnoses, treat illnesses and medical conditions, and write prescriptions for drugs and/or treatments. They counsel clients on prevention and health promotion. The CSSS physician can become the family doctor if the client does not have an attending physician. The request can originate from the client, his or her family, or a homecare practitioner.

Nursing care

A qualified nursing staff provides the homecare clients with the appropriate health care services in their home. Nurses also provide health information which can help clients to develop a healthy lifestyle, prevent illness and lead to greater overall well-being.

Social services

The needs of the client, the caregiver and the family are assessed in order to develop a plan that will address those needs and also identify the gaps in caregiver support. The practitioners make internal referrals to other professionals, external referrals (i.e. day hospital, day centre) and referrals to community resources (i.e. meals on wheels services). If living at home is no longer feasible your social service practitioner can help you explore alternative living in the public or private sectors. The practitioners offer emotional support and short-term counselling to help people adapt to different kinds of loss, they assist in securing the appropriate services for the client and in completing applications for respite care, foster home placement (public), nursing homes and long-term care facilities. They provide information on government programs and other resources relevant to the person’s need, make out the reports for the purposes of protective supervision (mandate, curatorship, etc).

Occupational therapy

The mandate of Occupational therapists is to allow for clients to maintain their functional autonomy within their home environment.  O.T's educate clients how to compensate for difficulties with the use  of adaptations and specific techniques.  They  provide solutions to eliminate architechural barriers: allow for clients to perform safe transfers and educate  care providers .  The goal of O.T,s is to allow for client's to remain at home in the most functional and safe manner.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapists help to maintain and/or improve clients’ functional capacities and to prevent a loss of autonomy. Clients eligible for these services are homebound due to a muscular or neurological condition, or because they are susceptible to falls and require assistance in getting around. In order to receive the services of a physiotherapist, a medical prescription is requested.

Home-help services

Home-help aides are trained to maintain, restore and improve the client’s health and quality of life. These professionals assist frail or dependent clients in their daily activities, while fostering their autonomy. They help clients with personal care and they may assist the nurse with the care plan. Home-help aides observe the home organization and attempt to reduce the risk factors in the client’s environment.

Nutrition services

The nutritionist ensures that the client’s needs are met with a balanced diet, while respecting tastes, restrictions, and dietary practices of the person.

Fall prevention

The CSSS in partnership with various community groups offers a 12 week fall prevention program at different times during the year.