Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA)

Caregiver Services

Caregiver Services support family members and friends in their caregiving roles by providing therapeutic counselling and relief from their care duties.

Caregiver Support Service - Respite
A support service provided in a client’s home to enable family or friends to have relief from their caregiving role and to help relieve stress placed on family relationships. The service provided may include supervision, personal care, light housekeeping and meal preparation. [Top]

Caregiver Support Service - Support and Counselling
The service provides therapeutic counselling to a caregiver who has an emotional, behavioural or personality problem that is impeding their ability to provide care and support for the client. The service is provided to caregivers either in group or individual sessions on a time limited basis either by, or under the direction of, a professionally trained individual and/or one who has demonstrated knowledge and expertise in the consumer’s area of need for support/counselling. The support/counselling is time limited and goal directed in meeting the caregiver’s social and emotional needs. [Top]

Caregiver Support Service - Training, Information and Education
The service provides information and education about the disease as well as training and moral support that will assist the caregiver in providing physical care and emotional support to the consumer. The service is provided on a time limited goal directed basis either by or under the direction of a professionally trained individual and/or individual who has demonstrated knowledge and expertise in the consumer’s are of need. The service is provided in group or individual sessions. [Top]

Caregiver Support Service - Volunteer Hospice Visiting Service
A support service where volunteers are recruited, trained and supported to provide support to individuals in receipt of palliative care. Palliative Care is the compassionate care of persons who are facing a life threatening or terminal illness, when treatment to prolong life has been discontinued and when control of symptoms, both physical and emotional, are paramount. Generally, the consumer will be matched with one volunteer. More than one volunteer will be provided where a volunteer is required to stay with a palliative care consumer for long periods of time, and on occasion for 24 hour periods. The palliative care visitor will supplement the support of family and friends. In some situations, the palliative care visitor may be the only source of support for the consumer. [Top]

Helping People Live at Home

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