Older Adults Care Pathway

A partnership between Family Counselling Centre and Lambton Public Health to create a single-point service for older adults within our community.

• In an effort to ensure older adults are easily able to access support services while staying at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The new Care Pathway program will allow older adults, caregivers, and family members to call one number to access a wide array of support services.
• Family Counselling Centre, thought its Tel-Check program will be the gateway for providing information, services, and referrals for older adults in Lambton County. One number to access a wide array of support services.
• Build synergies with other organizations within our County to ensure optimal services for our older adult population.
• Expand on current partnership between Family Counselling Centre and Lambton College for SSW and CYW students looking to fulfill their volunteer hours.

Tel-Check is a voluntary telephone support service which enables clients to stay at home while receiving a daily (if needed) telephone call from trained volunteer workers. The workers provide the individual with social contact, reassurance and a sense of connectedness while unobtrusively monitor physical, nutritional, and mental health needs during the telephone conversation. Besides the socialization aspect, to lessen the isolation, the workers can offer support referrals, or if necessary, contact the appropriate agency or service on behalf of the individual.

The type of support under the Older Adults Care Pathway could vary depending on each case, but could cover:

• Clients can choose their daily call to be in the morning, afternoon or evening.
• When clients are going through a particularly difficult time, they can receive an afternoon and evening call for a period of time
• If necessary, reminders may be provided regarding safety including that doors are locked and appliances are turned off
• For clients who are experiencing emotional health issues, a review of coping strategies may be offered.
• Clients will be offered a listening ear and reassurance
• When required, clients may be referred to other community agencies for additional services
• Clients who feel lonely and isolated gain new telephone friends

Referrals: Clients can self-refer or may be referred to the program by their health-care providers or by other agencies such as Local Health Integration Network (LHIN), Geriatric Emergency Management (GEM) nurses at Bluewater Health, Lambton Elderly Outreach or Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA).  Family members and friends can also make referrals on behalf of the client.  Referrals are made by contacting the Program Coordinator directly at Family Counselling Centre.

Tel-check is a service that is provided at no cost to seniors or individuals with disabilities living alone in the community. At this stage, funding is provided by the Ministry of Health Long Term Care and United Way Sarnia-Lambton.

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