In honour of Community Support Month, ESS would like to thank all of our support staff who care for the seniors and adults with disabilities in our community. Your work and efforts help us continue to support the independence of our clients and bring respite to their caregivers.
For Immediate Release by OCSA (Ontario Community Support Association):
Each year, nearly a million seniors and people with disabilities use the services offered by Ontario’s community support service (CSS) providers – and that demand is growing. Even if you’ve never heard of these unsung heroes of the health care system, you’ve benefited from their work.
October is Community Support month, an opportunity for Ontarians to get to know, donate, volunteer and raise their voices in support of the not-for-profit CSS providers in their local areas. They offer a wide variety of services which help people live independently in their own homes for as long as possible. These services include attendant care, adult day programs, Meals on Wheels, respite for family caregivers, personal care and home support, transportation to medical appointments, and supportive housing programs (to name just a few!)
Individuals prefer to receive support in the comfort of their own homes and communities, not in hospitals and institutions. By meeting this need, CSS providers improve the quality of life of clients and their families – and they also create significant cost-savings to Ontario’s health system, freeing up desperately needed funds and hospital beds. They are a crucial part of building the strong, sustainable health care system we will all need in the future.
“I encourage all Ontarians to learn about the home and community support services available in their communities,” says Deborah Simon, CEO of the Ontario Community Support Association. “These organizations support a vast range of individuals in our communities – including some of our most vulnerable citizens. This month is an excellent opportunity to give them a little extra support in return.”
There are many different types of community support services. Here are specific celebration dates set aside for each type:
October 4 – 10 – Meals on Wheels Week
October 7 – Congregate Dining Day
October 11 – 17 – Adult Day Program Week
October 14 – Client Intervention and Assistance (CIA) Day
October 18 – 24 – Supportive Housing Week
October 21 – Attendant Services Day
October 23 – Transportation Day
October 26 – Respite Services Day
October 27 – Friendly Visiting/Telephone Reassurance Day
October 28 – Hospice Services Day
Join the conversation on social media at #OurCommunitySupport.