Coming to terms with a critical or life-threatening illness can be incredibly difficult. When someone you love has been diagnosed with a serious medical condition it is normal to feel afraid and concerned about the future.
You might initially feel alone, helpless, and unsure about health care options for your loved one. You’ll want to know with confidence that they will receive the highest quality in care and will be as comfortable and content as possible.
But you don’t have feel alone or helpless during this challenging time. When possible, many Seniors are choosing to stay at home as they age.
Remaining within the comforts of home alleviates a lot of stress that moving into assisted living programs often has on people in later stages of life.
Integracare is a high quality home health care provider that specializes in Providing Palliative Care in Toronto and Mississauga for Seniors and has been operating for almost 30 years.
We believe that as people age or if they’re in pain, the best place to be is home.
We have a fully trained and certified staff of health care professionals who approach in-home Palliative Care with not only experience and knowledge, but also with respect and compassion.
To better understand how our in-home Palliative Care system works, consider the following benefits of private home health care.
An Experienced and Qualified Staff
When you’re placing your loved one in the care of someone else you want to know with certainty that these individuals are professional, knowledgeable, compassionate, caring, educated, experienced, and are engaging.
Integracare is an award winning and accredited company that is committed to providing you and your family with outstanding home health care services, including the best Palliative Care that Toronto and Mississauga has to offer.
We received Home Care Ontario’s Frontline Careworker of the Year in 2018, have twice received the Canadian Business Excellence Award for delighted customers, engaged employees and a culture of innovation.
You can trust that your loved ones are in good hands when you choose Integracare for your home health care needs. What truly makes us special is our compassionate live in Palliative Care team of nurses and caregivers.
All of our Caregivers are certified or registered and you can always depend on them for knowledge and compassion.
Our Caregivers are recognized, respected, trusted, and valued by everyone at Integracare and they are the most educated professionals in the industry.
We provide all of our Caregivers vital continuing education from the Alzheimer’s Society of Toronto, and they are trained on all of the four essential facets of Dementia Care.
Our dedicated team of Registered Nursing Coordinators and Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) are available on a 24/7 basis to provide both our Clients and Caregivers with support they need.
Having someone you love requiring Palliative Care is not easy. In fact, at times it can be challenging and exhausting. Our RPNs, Caregivers, and other service providers spend hours with your friend or family member.
Our Caregivers are there to assist with your loved one’s and daily chores around the house but depending on the severity of the medical condition of your loved one, they will also provide support in any means possible to help our Palliative Care Clients’ families feel comfortable.
Our Caregivers work as part of your loved one’s medical team and communicate with their Doctors to ensure that they receive the best possible care and that everyone is on the same page.
What Does it Involve?
Now that you have an idea of who we are, you might be wondering how exactly Palliative Care works.
Palliative Care is an interdisciplinary approach to customized medical and nursing care for individuals with chronic illnesses.
The objective is to relieve Clients from the symptoms, pain, physical stress, and emotional turmoil at any stage of the illness.
Palliative Care’s ultimate goal is to improve the quality of life for both the Client and their friends and family.
Consider integrating Palliative Care into your loved one’s health care plan if they have been diagnosed with the following:
- Cancer
- Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Arthritis
- ALS and Lou Gehrig’s disease
- Congestive Heart Failure
- Kidney Failure
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- And other life-threatening illnesses
Tragically, illnesses such as these will invariably worsen with time. These diseases also require a great deal of treatment that cause debilitating side effects — such as when people living with cancer undergo chemotherapy — and it’s important for Clients to maintain stable emotional and physical wellbeing during this difficult and draining time.
Palliative Care is all about improving the quality of life for Clients. Our Caregivers work with your friend or loved one right from their own home so they won’t have to leave their familiar and safe space.
Our Caregivers provide:
- Relief from pain and other distressing symptoms through gentle massage therapy, physiotherapy, medication management, and other supervised means.
- Emotional and mental support — our Caregivers are trained to exhibit an empathetic ear, and we also work with external social workers and therapists to maintain your loved one’s emotional wellbeing.
- A support system to help patients live as actively and comfortably as possible.
Take a minute to read essential information on Palliative Care and how we apply compassion and kindness into every component of your loved one’s Palliative Care plan.
What Services are Involved?
In addition to providing companionship and medical assistance, we also provide specific services that are customized to the needs of your friend or family member.
Dementia Care
If your loved one has been diagnosed with any type of dementia, the reality is that the disease is not going to get any better. It’s critical that you put a care plan into place as soon as possible.
Our trusted Palliative Caregivers are also thoroughly trained in Dementia Care.
Our Caregivers are able to offer your loved one a sense of dignity as they assist with daily activities ranging from meal planning to pain management, with empathy and professionalism, and more.
Massage Therapy
Pain is a huge factor to consider in Palliative Care treatment. Patients suffer from bodily discomfort caused by specific diseases as well as medical treatments.
Integracare is proud to have Registered Massage Therapists (RMTs) as part of our Caregiving team.
Massage Therapy can be used effectively alongside Palliative Care. It’s used to alleviate chronic pain and muscle tension in the neck, back, and shoulder.
Massage is also an effective way to decrease stress, fatigue, migraines, headaches, anxiety and depression — all of which are symptoms of having a serious illness.
Massage therapy is also great for Clients who suffer from mobility issues. It can be used to improve circulation and nerve functions where immobility would otherwise case joint rigidness, degeneration, and shortened muscles.
Our RMTs use tenderness and gentle massage strokes to ensure your loved one receives the best treatment without too much force or unwanted pressure.
If your friend or family member has been diagnosed with a serious chronic illness, then it is important to start planning for their wellbeing right away.
Palliative Care at home ensures that your loved one is safe and comfortable within the familiar setting of his or her own home, and you can get in touch with us anytime to learn more.
Our qualified staff of compassionate Palliative Caregivers provides physical, and emotional support for both Clients and families.