Home, Community, and Continuing Care
Home, Community, and Continuing Care
The Home and Community Care (HCC) program helps Nunavummiut care for themselves with help from family and community members and to keep their sense of independence and well-being. The Home and Community Care program provides health care and support services, based on an assessment, in the comfort of an individual’s home when he or she needs extra attention due to illness, poor health, or disability.
The Department of Health encourages healing within the home, and offers support to Nunavummiut and their families during times of need. By including families in a person’s care and by supporting family members during illness, the Home and Community Care program offers a more traditional approach to health care.
Eligibility
All Nunavummiut enrolled in the Nunavut Health Care Plan are eligible for referral to the Home and Community Care program.
Click here to learn how to enrol in the Nunavut Health Care Plan.
If you have a long-term illness or disease, or need support in your daily life, you may be eligible to receive services from the Home and Community Care program.
Anyone can ask for home care services through their community health centre or their local home care office. You do not need a health care professional to make a request or referral.
Once a request is received for home care services, an assessment will be done by a health professional to figure out what level of support is needed and what home care services are most appropriate for that person and his or her family.
Services
The Home and Community Care program provides a variety of services, including:
- Homemaking - house cleaning and assisting with meals and/or groceries
- Personal care - bathing and dressing
- Nursing care - injections and bandage changing
- Respite care - relief for family members
- Rehabilitation - recovery exercises
More Information
For more information, please contact your local Health Centre.
Elder Homes
The Department of Health’s aim is to ensure the best care for our senior population. There are two Elders Homes (Arviat and Iqaluit) with eight-bed capacity each that are designated to provide Level 2 or 3 assisted-living care for seniors in Nunavut.
- Level 2 care: Individual does not require significant medical support, is independently mobile with or without aids, may display some difficulty communicating, and requires minimal daily support -from the home care program or in a facility that provides supportive care.
- Level 3 care: Individual has chronic health issues that are likely to result in further decline of functioning, is dependent on aids for mobility, may be non-verbal but can communicate with the use of aids, and requires significant daily support from the home care program or in a facility that provides supportive care.
Eligibility
Eligibility is restricted to Nunavummiut (age 55 and older) holding a valid Nunavut Health Care Card who have been formally assessed as requiring Level 2 to Level 3 care by representatives of the Department of Health.
More Information:
For more information, please contact your local Health Centre or:
- Call the Territorial Home and Continuing Care Program at 867-975-5941
- Email [email protected]
Long-term Care
The Department of Health aims to ensure the best care for our ageing population. Health provides long-term care services to Nunavummiut who have complex care needs, require Level 4 or 5 care and can no longer be supported in their own homes or assisted living facilities.
There are three Continuing Care centres located in (Cambridge Bay; Igloolik; Gjoa Haven) with a total of 28 beds combined. The official opening of the renovated long-term care unit in the Kitikmeot Regional Health Centre took place mid-March 2017.
Eligibility
Eligibility is restricted to Nunavummiut (age 55 and older) holding a valid Nunavut Health Care Card who have been formally assessed as requiring Level 4 to Level 5 care by representatives of the Department of Health.
Decisions on admissions to the Nunavut’s three continuing care centres; or to a long-term care facility located outside of Nunavut are made collaboratively with the client and/or their family/guardian; the regional care team; and the Department of Health’s Territorial Continuing Care Coordinator, in accordance with the Prioritization Criteria for Admission of Nunavummiut to Long-term Care Residents to Facilities
Nunavummiut with more complex care needs, specifically with a dementia-related diagnosis, have been admitted at Embassy West Senior Living (EWSL) in Ottawa as the facility specializes in providing dementia care. EWSL has trained staff and access to specialized care and services to ensure safe and appropriate care. Out of territory placements are always made in consultation with the elder’s family or legal guardian.
- Level 4 care Individual requires complete assistance with mobility, has limited ability to communicate, and requires moderate professional nursing care – all of which is provided in a Continuing Care Centre. This level of care is very rarely provided at home in any jurisdiction and is not within the scope of the home care program in Nunavut.
- Level 5 care Individual requires significant medical and nursing support and has been diagnosed with a dementia related illness.
More Information
For more information, please contact your local Health Centre or:
- Call the Territorial Home and Continuing Care Program at 867-975-5941
- Email [email protected]