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COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES IN OTTAWA
Recent reductions to community support services in the Ottawa area severely compromise the ability of seniors and people with disabilities to retain their independence. Generally, people lead happier, more fulfilled lives in the comfort of their own homes. Health-care costs are reduced through fewer and shorter hospital admissions.
Approximately 87,000 seniors live in Ottawa; this number is expected to grow to 229,000 by 2031 (Council on Aging Projections)
Ottawa's Community Care Access Centre (CCAC) is the largest provider of publicly funded personal care services in the city. In 2001, the Ontario government froze CCAC funding at 2000 levels. To maintain a balanced budget, the CCAC cut back a number of services including reducing home support and personal care services to basic needs only. Even these essential services, though, have been reduced with clients now receiving help to bath for example only once a week. For many individuals the situation is intolerable. Of approximately 13,000 CCAC clients, some 5,900 have been affected by these service reductions, 89 percent of whom are seniors aged 61 and older.
Approximately 16,000 people in Ottawa rely on Ontario Disability Support Programs
Ottawa CCAC service reductions have forced many people to pay privately, or turn to family for the help they need to remain independent. Individuals without family or the means to pay for private services are being institutionalized sooner, at a great cost to society both financially and socially. Many clients are also being referred to other community support agencies, but without any parallel increase in funding, these agencies are having difficulty meeting the increased demand.
Up to 90 percent of the care of elderly people is provided informally, largely by wives, daughters and daughters-in-law
Inadequate levels of publicly funded community support services cause burnout and increased stress for caregivers, families and staff, and lead to increased risk for individuals in need of support services, and costly and unnecessary institutionalization. Caregivers also suffer through higher levels of illness and hospitalization due to increased stress.
Places to turn to for help
If you or a loved one is in need of community support services, check out the community health and resource centre nearest you, or one of these local organizations:
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