Resources

Choosing A Long-Term Care Home

At Lakeshore Residence, we are here to help ease the stress and confusion that often comes with choosing a long term care home. When searching for a home for yourself or your loved one, it is important to determine whether the Residence is a place where people are supported and encouraged to achieve all that they can be. To get a feel for the care, culture, and the general atmosphere of a Residence, we recommend you visit all that interest you. We have also provided a series of questions to consider when choosing a long-term care home. Here are some questions to think about as you get started and to ask about during your visit:

Is the location appealing to you?
Is it near stores, a park, a familiar neighbourhood?
Is the location easily accessible for visits by family or friends?
Ask to see a resident room, activity room, dining area and resident lounge.
Stop and speak to a few residents and families about their impressions of the Residence.
Ask for copies of sample menus, monthly activity calendars, Resident and Family Council meeting minutes and newsletters.
Are you introduced to the Administrator or any other managers?
Is the team friendly?
Are the team members warm and concerned when interacting with residents?
Is the building clean, inviting and well-maintained?
Is the type of room and the bathroom to your liking?
Is there a way to have privacy, if the room is shared?
Is there flexibility around visiting hours?
Are the menus varied and appealing?
Ask if you are able to sample a meal or participate in an activity at the Residence.
Are meals that are culturally familiar to you available?
Is the Residence able/willing to meet your religious, cultural, language, and dietary needs?
Can family and visitors dine with the residents?
How are families and residents involved in the planning for the resident’s care?
How frequently are services such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy and foot care available?
What special needs can be accommodated in this setting (e.g., diabetes, oxygen, scooters, specialized services for dementia)?
What innovative programs, services and activities set this Residence apart from others?
What extra charges are there, if any, for services or amenities (e.g., phone, television, hairdressing, transportation)
Making the Move to Long-Term Care: A Practical Navigation Guide for Ontario Families

Move-In Process

Through our years of service in long-term care, we have found our new residents appreciate understanding what to expect during the move-in process; prior to, on the day of, and in the days following. We are pleased to provide you with some details below on the move-in process to assist you with a smooth transition.

You will be notified by your Ontario Health atHome Placement Coordinator that your application has been approved. Long-term care wait time information is provided for general information only. Please be advised that wait times for moving into a long-term care home can change without notice and are not guaranteed. Please contact your Ontario Health atHome Placement Coordinator for more specific information.
Once a room is available at one of your long-term care choices you will be notified by the Ontario Health atHome Placement Coordinator and be given the option to accept or decline the room offer.
Once you have accepted the room offer, you will be contacted by the Residence to arrange a date and time prior to moving in to complete all necessary paperwork.
Upon arrival at the Residence on your day of move-in, you will be greeted by the team. Loved ones are welcome and encouraged to join you.
You will be assisted with bringing in your belongings, shown your new room and introduced to your roommate, if applicable.
You will receive assistance with unpacking your clothes and having them labelled with your name.
You will be introduced to the team. This provides an opportunity for them to get to know you, and for you and/or your loved ones to ask any questions.
If you have not already had a visit to the Residence you, and your loved ones, will be given the opportunity to do so with a team member to familiarize yourselves.
Over the course of the next few days, you will meet with the Doctor, Programs team, Dietitian and Social Worker, along with many other team, residents and families.
Within six weeks of moving in, you and your loved ones will be invited to attend an Interdisciplinary Care Conference.

Move-In FAQ’s

What should I bring with me to the Residence on the day I move in?

On the day you move in, it is important to bring copies of any Power of Attorney/Statutory Guardian papers, the resident’s Health Card, a copy of their most recent Notice of Assessment from Revenue Canada and a void cheque. If the resident is moving into the Residence from a community setting you will need to bring all medications. You will want to bring clothing that is comfortable and machine washable. Generally, a two (2) week supply of clothing is sufficient. You will also want to include enough clothing appropriate for the various seasons and different weather conditions. For a complete list of recommended clothing to bring, click here. You are also asked to bring any specialty toiletries, such as makeup and hair products. People are encouraged to bring items such as pictures, artwork, gifts and other memorabilia to give their room a personal touch. We will ensure that the personal items are appropriate and safe for the room and that any electrical items are approved by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA).

Can residents have a television, phone and/or internet in their room?

Televisions, radios, telephones and computers are welcomed in all of our rooms. If the resident is already subscribed to any of these services, you will simply need to have the provider transfer the existing service to their room in the Residence. They may even be able to keep their current phone number. Ask the service provider for details. Cell phones and wireless internet are permitted in the Residence.

What are the meal choices?

We appreciate the importance of a quality dining experience and are proud of the menu selection we offer. Meals are cooked fresh each day in our on-site kitchen and are served in the dining room. Residents are always provided with two entree choices at each meal. Residents are provided with three (3) well-balanced meals per day, as well as refreshments between meals and snacks in the afternoon and evening.

Are special diets available?

Yes. We cater to a wide variety of special diets, including diabetic, vegetarian and no-pork. Each person’s diet is assessed at the time of admission and quarterly therein. Food intake is monitored at each meal. If there are noticeable changes, a referral to the Dietitian is made and changes are implemented accordingly. If you have a question about our ability to offer a specific diet, please contact the Admissions Coordinator.

Can residents keep their own family physicians?

Residents are assigned an Attending Physician at the time of admission based on the Residence area where the resident will be living. Although it is not mandatory, we encourage residents to take on the Physician provided by the Residence to ensure good communication of health information, and to allow for on-site accessibility. Residents may retain their own Family Physician from the community if the Physician is willing to comply with the requirements of the Ministry of Long Term Care (MLTC).

Do you offer physiotherapy and rehabilitation services?

Lakeshore Residence offers a range of physiotherapy and rehabilitation services. There are also alternative therapies and restorative care programs available. Each new resident is assessed to determine an appropriate physiotherapy regime shortly after admission. Our objective is to maintain and restore residents’ current abilities and strengths through a variety of physical programs designed to meet individual needs

When are visiting hours?

The Residence welcomes families to visit as often as possible and to stay as long as possible. Guests are a very important part of a resident’s life, and we encourage regular visits by relatives and friends. We practice an open hour’s visitation policy with consideration for the comfort and schedules of all residents. It is suggested that visitors who plan to visit late in the evening call the Residence and advise the Charge Nurse of their plans.

Are there rules about vacation and leaves from the Residence?

Yes. Residents may have overnight leaves of up to 48 hours per week. Extended leaves or vacations of up to 21 days can also be accommodated. It is important to know that accommodation fees remain the same even though the resident has taken an overnight or vacation leave. The Unit Nurse should be notified of any plans for an overnight leave or vacation so we can work with you to coordinate and review all care and medication needs.

Ontario Health atHome

Ontario Health atHome coordinates in-home and community-based care for over 400,000 patients every month. It also manages Ontario’s long-term care home placement process.

When living independently in the community is no longer the best option, Ontario Health atHome care coordinators work with eligible patients and their families to find the long-term care home that best fits each person’s needs. Long-Term Care homes are licensed, regulated and funded by the Ministry of Long-Term Care. Application for admission into a provincially-regulated long-term care home can only be made through Ontario Health atHome. You can work with a care coordinator to determine whether you are eligible for admission to a long-term care home, identify homes appropriate for you and help with the application process.

To find your local Ontario Health atHome, click on the button below and enter your postal code.