It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Lindsay Museum And Gallery gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Lindsay, CA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
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Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Lindsay City Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local El Molcajete or visit Allensworth Historic Town Site (California Historical Landmark #1047), don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Lindsay, CA, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Lindsay, CA understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Lindsay, CA 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
Community The ArtsLocal citizens were in for a real treat when The Wizard of Oz went up on the big screen at the Kent Theatre from Nov. 21 through 25, 1939. Patrons entering this 296-seat cinema at 12 Lindsay Street South would have been spellbound by the landmark Metro-Goldwyn Mayer film, released only a few months before, which tran...
Local citizens were in for a real treat when The Wizard of Oz went up on the big screen at the Kent Theatre from Nov. 21 through 25, 1939. Patrons entering this 296-seat cinema at 12 Lindsay Street South would have been spellbound by the landmark Metro-Goldwyn Mayer film, released only a few months before, which transported them into a land of Technicolor-infused fantasy. The adventures of Dorothy Gale and her anthropomorphic acquaintances along the Yellow Brick Road was no doubt a welcome distraction from headline after headline about the burgeoning war in Europe.
Much has changed in the ensuing 85 years, and the Kent Theatre is but a distant memory in local theatrical lore – yet The Wizard of Oz’s appeal remains timeless. And that’s exactly what the cast and crew of this year’s fall musical at the FLATO Academy Theatre hopes will bring people into the famed auditorium for four performances between Nov. 22 and 24, 2024.
“For me, Wizard of Oz is like coming home,” reflects Beth Wilson, who is no stranger to the director’s chair, having overseen last year’s production of James and the Giant Peach. “The Wizard of Oz was the very first show I was ever in – and I was Dorothy,” she recalls. “Throughout my life, I have always come back to it. I love the story and get giddy when I hear the music. It is like comfort food, because I knew it so well, and I wanted other people in the community to have that experience.”
Kawartha Lakes Weekly recently took in the cast’s costume parade, wherein each character made their way across the stage for inspection by costume designer Jennifer Simpson. From the dapper garb worn by the Wizard (Scott McLeod) to the brilliant emerald attire donned by the citizens of Oz; from the frightful cloak and makeup of the Wicked Witch of the West (Allison Merritt), to the regal vesture of Glinda the Good Witch (Sydney Harwood-Jones), each outfit is a testament to Simpson’s talents in concocting creative costumes.
The costume parade completed, performers get down to the business of rehearsing their lines in preparation for the big night. In front of the stage, flautist Laurie Jolicoeur and pianist Lynne Davis run through the score, bringing forth merry melodies that promise to stir the souls and hearts of audience members young and young-at-heart. There is a palpable energy in the room, there is chatter and laughter as everyone works in concert to support each other – and the feeling of being part of something much bigger than the sum of its parts is not lost on the cast.
“I really like how Dorothy’s a big dreamer, how she always wants something bigger from the world – and I think that’s a good thing to think about,” reflects Ella Wilson, who plays the protagonist. “She’s very kind, makes friends with everyone, and she always stands up for what she thinks is right.”
Tom Collver, noted for his comical persona on the Academy stage, has been cast as the lovable Scarecrow. “What resonates for me about the Scarecrow is his curiosity for everything around him,” Collver says. “After being stuck on a pole in one spot, he gets an opportunity to meet a lot of different people and go to a lot of different places, and learns a lot about himself through that.” These sentiments are echoed by Sean Winter, who as the Tin Man goes to the Emerald City in search of a heart. “He’s looking for connection with other people and the world around him to feel truly alive – and that’s something we’re all looking for,” Winter states.
This journey of self-discovery is of particular importance to Matt Avery, who takes on the mantle of the Cowardly Lion. “Some of us need to learn to take risks and stand up for ourselves, and stand up not only for ourselves but for the things we believe in and the people we care about,” he says.
As in 1939, the anxieties and uncertainties in our own world often leave us longing for something better, something we might glimpse on the distant horizon despite the snares of darkness and evil encompassed all around us – rather like the journey Dorothy and her friends take to the Emerald City. Yet as Beth Wilson points out, it is not so much the destination that matters, but rather the people who join us to get there. “The most important people in your life make you think, make you love, and make you brave – and remember that there really is no place like home,” she says. “I hope it will take the audience into a place of imagination and comfort.”
The Wizard of Oz goes up at the Academy Theatre on Nov. 22 (7:00 p.m.), 23 (2:00 and 7:00 p.m.), and 24 (2:00 p.m.). For tickets and additional information, please visit flatoacademytheatre.com.
Community The ArtsBy Susan TaylorWhen we think of art galleries, or many of the performing arts, we sometimes think of large, spacious buildings, where only a certain segment of the population enjoys going, to see and be seen. It is an elitist view that has been around for a hundred or more years. There’s also an element ...
By Susan Taylor
When we think of art galleries, or many of the performing arts, we sometimes think of large, spacious buildings, where only a certain segment of the population enjoys going, to see and be seen. It is an elitist view that has been around for a hundred or more years. There’s also an element of truth to it, especially in large, metropolitan cities.
It’s not how we view things at the Kawartha Art Gallery (KAG). Our motto is ‘For the Art in Everyone’. We believe that art, visual art in our case, is many things, but certainly not elitist. It is a community builder, helping to bring people together to experience something new. It is a conversation starter – a chance for people from different backgrounds to share what they like (and often, what they don’t like), and to search for meaning from the artist’s unique take on the world. It is also a business, helping to drive cultural tourism and creating destination cities, in this case Kawartha Lakes.
The Kawartha Art Gallery is also a not-for-profit, meaning it relies heavily on the support of individuals, the municipality, local businesses, and government grants. The model of not-for-profits is, as it sounds, to not build any kind of profit – funds that come in, after supporting some infrastructure, go straight back to artists in our area. But government grants, especially, are unreliable at best. There are wonderful arts councils at the provincial and national levels, but there is an ongoing challenge of advocating to them the unique needs of rural communities.
Recently, Kawartha Lakes City Council agreed to a three-year operating plan support with KAG, a huge step in the right direction. This generous show of support was a first step in building Kawartha Art Gallery’s staff capabilities and answering the need for programming in the community, particularly for those who are underrepresented.
It also got the attention of some in our community. When he heard of this municipal support, Linborough Property Corp President and Lindsay BIA Chair Wesley Found recognized that KAG was a group to get behind. He made the connection that his father, Ken Found, was a man of culture (in addition to a community leader and entrepreneur). He understood KAG’s value to this city and its residents. And he wanted to help further.
This help turned into The Ken Found Art Fund. Managed by the Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes, this fund includes an initial monetary value to be used by the gallery over five years. It also includes 61 pieces of art that will be used to fundraise further support for the gallery.
This is a success story no matter how you look at it. An arts and culture gallery that focuses on community needs and supporting local talent, gets the attention and support of a local government, whose investment inspires a local business leader to give their support.
Culture not only takes a village, culture shapes a village. Culture, in fact, makes a village.
Interested in finding ways of becoming part of the Kawartha Art Gallery’s future? Contact us at [email protected] or visit kawarthagallery.com.
Community Municipal News BriefsFamilies in Kawartha Lakes are invited to enjoy a day full of creativity, exploration, and learning as Kawartha Lakes Public Library hosts a range of PA Day activities for children across six of the municipality&r...
Community Municipal News Briefs
Families in Kawartha Lakes are invited to enjoy a day full of creativity, exploration, and learning as Kawartha Lakes Public Library hosts a range of PA Day activities for children across six of the municipality’s library branches. On November 22, 2024, a variety of engaging activities are planned at the Bobcaygeon, Coboconk, Fenelon Falls, Lindsay, Omemee, and Woodville branches. Each program is free to attend, and no registration is required — simply drop in and join the fun.
Event Highlights Bobcaygeon Branch – Paint Tutorial: Unleash your inner artist with a cupcake-themed painting class at either 10:30 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. Library staff will guide children through a step-by-step painting process. All supplies are provided, so bring your creativity!
Coboconk Branch – Sort Your Snacks: Drop in anytime between 10:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to discover how we can all play a part in waste diversion. Join a representative from Kawartha Lakes Waste Management for a fun, hands-on experience with sorting activities that make recycling, and sustainable choices easy to understand. With a fun “What Goes Where” sorting game, eco-friendly snack ideas, and take-home colouring books, kids will learn simple ways we can all make a difference in reducing waste!
Fenelon Falls Branch – Build a Castle: From 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., young builders are invited to create their dream castle out of cardboard. Kids can bring their favourite toy or stuffed animal to add a personalized touch.
Lindsay Branch – Oreo Tasting: Calling all Oreo fans! Every 30 minutes, kids can join an exciting Oreo taste-testing challenge between 10:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. With various flavours to sample, children can test their taste buds and see how many they can identify correctly!
Omemee Branch – Dinosaur Dig: From 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., budding paleontologists can dig through sand to uncover hidden dinosaur treasures. Equipped with tools like picks and brushes, kids will enjoy a hands-on experience of being a paleontologist.
Woodville Branch – Clay Pot Stencils: From 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., children can get creative by decorating their clay pot with seasonal stencils. Once finished, they can fill their pot with goodies to take home.
This PA Day, let Kawartha Lakes Public Library spark a child’s curiosity and creativity! We’re thrilled to offer these special events across our branches and hope to see families join us for a fun-filled day. For more information, visit Kawartha Lakes Public Library’s website or contact your local branch directly.
Health News Briefs ProvincialThe emergency department at Ross Memorial Hospital will connect more people to emergency care closer to homeThe Ontario government is connecting people in Kawartha Lakes to better, more convenient emergency car...
The emergency department at Ross Memorial Hospital will connect more people to emergency care closer to home
The Ontario government is connecting people in Kawartha Lakes to better, more convenient emergency care by renovating and expanding the emergency department at Ross Memorial Hospital to connect more people to world-class emergency care.
“Our government is addressing demand for emergency care in the Kawartha Lakes region to connect more Ontarians to timely and convenient health care options, close to home,” said Sylvia Jones, deputy premier and minister of health. “The expansion of Ross Memorial Hospital’s emergency department will allow people and families to continue to access the high-quality care they need, where they need it, for years to come.”
Through this investment, Ross Memorial Hospital’s current emergency department will be renovated and expanded, including the creation of a new, state-of-the-art mental health emergency services unit. This expansion will improve patient safety and ensure the hospital is better equipped to provide timely care for mental health patients. The expansion will also include a new trauma room with improved infection control measures to provide emergency department staff with additional space to treat patients requiring urgent lifesaving care.
As a next step, the ministry is working with Ross Memorial Hospital to complete early planning and design for this project. A construction schedule will be confirmed once future planning is complete and the project is tendered and awarded.
“This investment in the Ross Memorial Emergency Department will provide much-needed support to enhance trauma services and mental health care for our community,” said Laurie Scott, MPP for Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock. “The Government is excited to continue uplifting our hospitals and healthcare workers by building on our existing investments to improve the accessibility and quality of care in our province.”
Through Your Health: A Plan For Connected and Convenient Care, Ontario is making it easier and faster for people of all ages to connect to the care they need, closer to home.
“Ross Memorial Hospital is appreciative of the Ontario government and MPP Laurie Scott for sharing in our commitment to meet the growing demands on the healthcare services our community relies on,” says Christine Norris, chair of the hospital’s board of directors. “The commitment announced today is essential to supporting our dedicated team and hospital’s mission to deliver on the promise of a better healthcare experience.”
“Expanding our emergency care capacity is a key component of Ross Memorial Hospital’s plan to meet the ever-increasing service demands of our growing population,” adds Kelly Isfan, CEO and president of the RMH. “With close to 35,000 patients attending our Emergency Department in the last year, enhanced and expanded emergency facilities will play a crucial role in meeting our community’s needs.”
Cases at Ross Memorial Hospital have doubled in three years. A local doctor and a doula share their insights.Since Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) was legalized in Canada in 2016, there have been concerns about the rapidly growing number of people accessing the health service.The fourth annual report for MAID in 2022 showed a 30 per cent increase in cases from the previous year. Even locally, cases of MAID at Ross Memorial Hospital (RMH) have more than doubled from 2021 to 2024 (with 13 cases in 2021-2022 and 33 cases in 202...
Cases at Ross Memorial Hospital have doubled in three years. A local doctor and a doula share their insights.
Since Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) was legalized in Canada in 2016, there have been concerns about the rapidly growing number of people accessing the health service.
The fourth annual report for MAID in 2022 showed a 30 per cent increase in cases from the previous year. Even locally, cases of MAID at Ross Memorial Hospital (RMH) have more than doubled from 2021 to 2024 (with 13 cases in 2021-2022 and 33 cases in 2023-2024) and this does not account for MAID administered outside the hospital.
With no sign of plateau, it’s fair to wonder whether proper protections have been put in place to keep vulnerable populations safe and ensure no one is being coerced into this palliative care option. To get an idea of what happens when a patient chooses MAID, we spoke with a local doctor and end-of-life doula, both of whom have MAID experience.
Dr. Brent MacMillan, a clinician at RMH and MAID provider, says that although cases are climbing “many referred patients are found to be ineligible for MAID because they do not fit the strict eligibility criteria.” MAID patients who are eligible will fall into one of two tracks. For track one, the patient’s natural death must be reasonably foreseeable. For track two, the patient’s death is not foreseeable and requires “a full review of all treatment options and concerted efforts to relieve their suffering during a three-month treatment period,” MacMillan says.
In addition, an expert opinion regarding the state and prognosis of the patient’s illness is needed and the treatment and reassessment cycle continues for a minimum period of three months, only considering MAID as a last resort. Patients in both tracks must make the request for MAID of their own volition and have a “serious and incurable illness, disease or disability” at “an advanced state of irreversible decline in capability” resulting in “enduring and intolerable physical or psychological suffering that cannot be alleviated” (this still excludes mental illness, until an expected review in 2027.)
Other criteria include: the patient must be 18 years of age or older, eligible for publicly funded health care services and give their informed consent (informed consent requires that the health care provider inform the patient of all the risks, benefits, and alternatives of a treatment or medical intervention they are considering.)
To become a MAID provider, physicians and nurse practitioners (the only clinicians allowed to become MAID providers) are highly recommended to take a 27-hour training program through Canadian MAID Curriculum and additional policy and legal requirements for clinicians has been put in place by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. The Canadian Association of MAID Assessors and Providers organization offers further support for clinicians to interact with each other, especially for challenging cases that may benefit from a variety of clinical perspectives.
MacMillan, the clinician at RMH, became a MAID provider because, he says, “it is important for patient autonomy and dignity” and that patients should have “power at the time of their dying with an emphasis on quality of life… not quantity.”
Working in Kawartha Lakes as an end-of-life doula, Desiree Lodge describes her role as “the connecting link between the client, their family and caregivers and their medical team.” Similar to the doctor, she helps to ensure patients’ wishes are met “and (that) they die with the dignity they deserve.” Lodge became a doula for end-of-life after personal experiences with caring for aging and ill parents, where she says, “there was a gap between what care was provided by the medical field and hospice.” Though the doula does not provide MAID herself, she does offer additional support for patients who have chosen MAID and says the MAID context “doesn’t differ much from other end of life care we provide.”
Whether they choose MAID or other palliative care, working with a patient at the end of their life is both challenging and rewarding for healthcare teams. But when it comes to MAID, MacMillan says, “this is one of the few areas in medicine where patients and their family are overwhelmingly grateful for the care that I have provided.”
Even when a patient’s family initially disagree with MAID, MacMillan says that following the treatment they have “often changed their appreciation and acceptance of MAID potentially for themselves in the future.” In Lodge’s experience, patients have brought up concerns about getting a negative response when discussing MAID with family members and the doula says that “occasionally family dynamics will cause some challenges.”
Helping patients’ families so that the patient “can die in peace and know that their family is also being supported,” is part of the care Lodge provides. Generally, the response to MAID from patients and their families is positive. When family conflict arises due to individual beliefs, MacMillan says “100 per cent of the time, the loved ones who showed complete disagreement with the provision of MAID expressed their gratitude after.”
Due to patient confidentiality, neither of our local sources could provide details about the patients they have supported with MAID. However, according to Canada’s 2022 annual report on MAID, a majority of MAID patients had cancer (63 per cent) followed by cardiovascular (18.8 per cent), and the average age was 77 years. Only 1.3 per cent of MAID cases were people aged 18-45 and 3.2 per cent were age 46-55.
While MAID is an intensely personal decision, MacMillan knows the path he would choose.
“For myself, I believe that I can tolerate a fair amount…however, I would not want my family lingering at my bedside witnessing my suffering, worrying at night whether they’re going to see me the next morning and watching me decline to a fraction of the person that I was in life. I want to be able to give my family a proper goodbye and leave them with the memory of the person that I was in life, rather than leave them with a horrible, painful memory of a man who suffered deterioration and disappeared before their eyes.”
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