Home Care

Regional Health Authorities offer Home Care services in Saskatchewan.

Services are provided based on assessed need and are intended to help people who need acute, palliative and supportive care to remain independent at home.

Home Care is not intended to take over those things clients are able to do for themselves or to replace existing support.

Purposes and Goals of Home Care Services

Purpose: "To help people who need assistance due to health problems and/or disabilities remain at home."
Goals:
To teach self care and strengthen abilities.
To delay/prevent loss of abilities.
To assist families and other supporters.
To provide referral service to other agencies.

Home Care Services:
Based on assessed need, Sun Country Health Region offers the following Home Care Services provided by Registered Nurses, Home Health Aides, Case Managers, Volunteer Coordinators and Palliative Care Coordinators:

Assessment:
Assessment is the process to determine eligibility for the program and ongoing coordination of services.  Qualified assessors complete a comprehensive assessment to determine with the individual the services needed and to develop a care plan together.

Homemaking:
Assistance with laundry, house cleaning, meal preparation and other needs as required. Seasonal cleaning is not offered through Home Care.

Personal Care:
Assistance with bathing, dressing, grooming, exercise, foot and hair care and other activities of daily living.

Respite Care:
Temporary relief for family caregivers to enable them to attend outings for short periods of time. Some evening service and occasional over night stays can be provided for short periods of time.

Meals on Wheels:
Nutritionally balanced meals delivered to the client's home.  

Nursing:
Teaching self care activities and monitoring procedures (eg.  blood pressure, blood sugar, pain management, bowel care) skin and wound management, medication supervision, specimen collection, special foot care, home intravenous programs and other procedures as requested by a physician or applicable practitioner  (eg.  Nurse Practitioner)
These services are provided by a registered nurse and/or trained staff under the supervision of a registered nurse.

Volunteers:
Volunteer services are available in some communities. Volunteers may provide such services as meal delivery, phone calls, errands, transportation and friendly visiting.

Palliative Care:
If a terminally ill client wishes to remain at home, palliative care will be provided in the home, as long as it is feasible. This care is provided by a team of professionals that may include Palliative Care Coordinators, Home Care Nurses, Home Health Aides, Case Managers, physician, dietitians, pharmacists, physiotherapists/occupational therapists, spiritual supporters.

Equipment:
Clients may be able to rent some special needs equipment for short periods of time while waiting for their own to arrive (eg. walkers, wheelchairs, bath benches).

Home Care Fees:
Home Care Service charges are based on fees established by the Government of Saskatchewan. Services are government subsidized and do not reflect the true cost of providing the service. Additional  subsidy may be available to clients based on their income.

Home Care nursing, assessment and coordination services are free of charge to the client.

Who can receive Home Care Services?
Any Saskatchewan resident may receive Home Care Services. Out of province visitors have access through special arrangements.

Who can request service? How do I request service?
Anyone can request Home Care Services, including the client, doctor, family member or a friend. Certain nursing services require a doctor's request. A person can request Home Care Services by contacting the appropriate Home Care office listed below: 

Contact:

Home Care West	Home Care South	Home Care East
Weyburn Phone: 842-6870 Fax: 842-1919 Radville Phone: 869-2722 Fax: 869-2562 Pangman Phone: 442-4722 Fax: 442-4227 Bengough Phone: 268-2102 Fax: 268-4339 Coronach Phone: 267-2233 Fax: 267-2324	Estevan Phone: 637-3630 Fax: 637-2494 Lampman Phone: 487-2562 Fax: 487-3103 Midale Phone: 458-2446 Fax: 458-2764 Oxbow Phone: 483-5047 Fax: 483-5178 Carnduff/ Gainsborough Phone: 685-2123 Fax: 685-4636	Arcola Phone: 455-2116 Fax: 455-2119 Kipling Phone: 736-2913 Fax: 736-8185 Stoughton Phone: 457-2686 Fax: 457-2430 Wawota Phone: 739-2782 Fax: 739-2802 Redvers Phone: 452-3659 Fax: 452-3556 Carlyle Phone: 453-6749 Fax: 453-6799

Obtaining Service