We live in a community of people who look out for each other; neighbours and friends who help, care and want the best for one another. At Community Care City of Kawartha Lakes, we aim to build healthy communities through care and support. How can we help you? Give us a call at 705-324-7323 or email us at AskUs@ccckl.ca. To learn more about our programs and services, visit www.ccckl.ca.

International Overdose Awareness Day is a global event held on August 31st each year and aims to raise awareness of overdose and reduce the stigma of a drug-related death. Please join CCCKL Hospice Services as we gather with our local partners at Victoria Park on Wednesday, August 31 from 10am – 3pm to recognize a healing day in which to remember our loved ones who have died by overdose.

Community Care's Hospice Services are here to offer support, direction and comfort and if you are going through a difficult time, you do not have to make this journey alone. Visit our website to learn more about the grief support programs we provide.

We are happy to announce that our SAGES program is resuming across the City of Kawartha Lakes in September. The Sage Advice and Gentle Exercises for Seniors (SAGES) program focuses on improving cardiovascular endurance, balance, muscle strength and flexibility. This can help older adults complete daily activities such as climbing stairs, getting out of a chair, bending down, and much more!

Visit our website to learn more about SAGES and see a full list of dates and locations. You can also email us at wellness@ccckl.ca or give us a call at 705-879-4100 ext. 186 for more information.

CCCKL is a proud member of the Kawartha Lakes Ontario Health Team (KL-OHT), which is a group of healthcare providers that are committed to improving the coordination of care for the Kawartha Lakes community. We are working together as a team to ensure patients, families, and caregivers experience a seamless and supported journey through our healthcare system. We want to create care journeys for our community members that are supported by local health and community programs and digitally enhanced services.

The KL-OHT is excited to announce the launch of their upgraded Wellness Connections program, which is designed for people aged 65+ to learn about health changes and choices to age well and to connect to local service providers offering supportive programs. The program can be accessed virtually through the KL-OHT website or with in-person support.

If you would like to refer yourself or someone else with their consent for the program, you can complete the referral form on the KL-OHT website, email info@kawarthalakesoht.ca or call 705-934-1439.

At Community Care, education, advocacy and assistance in accessing available community services and resources dedicated to elder abuse prevention are provided through our Elder Abuse Awareness & Education program. The unfortunate reality is that there are many occurrences of elder abuse in our community, and our Elder Abuse Prevention Coordinator, Tammy Brydon, is often the first point of contact for those seeking support and advocacy.

Elder abuse can happen in many forms, whether through physical, emotional, financial or neglect, and unfortunately cases are on the rise in our community. According to Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario, approximately 8% – 10% of seniors experience some form of elder abuse each year in Canada.

Below is a breakdown of the number of cases investigated through Community Care in Kawartha Lakes over the past three years, with some examples of the types of elder abuse we see: 

So far in 2022, we have already investigated 50 cases. These numbers are sobering and eye-opening, as we have seen a clear rise in cases each year, particularly with physical abuse cases. Addressing each of the situations requires a number of different interventions, safeguards, and community supports. Some cases are more straightforward to investigate, while others are complex and can remain active for more than a year. “I am a strong advocate for elder abuse prevention and awareness. It is important that the public is aware that these type of things happen in our community”, says Tammy.

In addition to investigating cases of elder abuse in our community and supporting victims, Tammy also organizes outreach and training presentations in the community. She also partners with local community agencies, such as Ross Memorial Hospital, Women’s Resources, Victim Services, Home and Community Care, Housing, Kawartha Lakes Police and OPP services, local banks and more. These partnerships help ensure that victims of elder abuse have support and advocacy from all angles. “These community partnerships are critical to ensure seniors are not taken advantage of and that they have support with whatever they may need”.

For more information and resources on elder abuse prevention and awareness, please visit our website.

If you are concerned about yourself, a friend or loved one, please contact Elder Abuse Prevention Coordinator Tammy Brydon at tbrydon@ccckl.ca or call 705-879-6151.

 

Community Care's Hospice Services are here to offer support, direction and comfort and if you are going through a difficult time, you do not have to make this journey alone. Visit our website or give us a call at 705-879-4123 to learn more about the grief support programs we provide.

The title of this column reflects the content of this issue of the CCCKL newsletter—from sharing the recent videos made to highlight the range of our services, to providing information about some of our programs and the contribution they make to the health and wellbeing of residents of the City of Kawartha Lakes. Our efforts are strengthened through the partnerships with other organizations referenced in this month’s items including the Kawartha Lakes Ontario Health Team and those involved in the August 31^st Overdose Awareness Event and I extend sincere thanks to all of our partners.

Healthcare has definitely been in the news this summer, with widely reported shortages of health care workers, long wait times and/or temporary closures in Emergency Rooms, and alarming levels of burn-out, especially amongst nurses and physicians. Solutions to these problems are complex and sometimes controversial as we are seeing with Ontario’s Bill 7: More Beds, Better Care Act (2022). The concern about Bill 7 is that patients in hospitals awaiting long-term care placement may be required to either accept a bed in a location not of their choosing or to pay very steep daily fees for remaining in a hospital bed—a ‘forced choice’ that could have very negative consequences for vulnerable individuals and their loved ones.   

Less controversial initiatives include new mechanisms to assist Internationally Educated Nurses to become registered in Ontario. These include government funding for registration and exam fees and a faster registration process. Given the well publicized issues in healthcare, it is timely that both the Ontario Government and the Federal Government have recently announced the appointment of a Chief Nursing Officer. In Ontario, Karima Velji, RN, PhD, has taken office as the Chief of Nursing and Professional Practice and Assistant Deputy Minister of Health. At the federal level, Leigh Chapman, RN, PhD, has been named Federal Chief Nursing Officer. Each of these nurses brings extensive experience and understanding of the health care system and it is good news that their advocacy and insights will inform strategies to strengthen the healthcare workforce and system.

It seems to me that the media’s emphasis on hospitals serves to reinforce the importance of the contribution community-based services make to the healthcare system. By supporting individuals and families in staying healthy and connected at home, we can positively influence quality of life, delay or prevent hospitalization and reduce the demand for hospital beds. That is the work CCCKL is privileged to do throughout the City of Kawartha Lakes.

I wish all a wonderful Labour Day Weekend and extend special thanks to CCCKL team members who will be on duty to serve clients!

Warmly,

Barb Mildon