Menu
Environmental
Different types of environments may either support or inhibit a person’s function and health. Older adults should have a living environment that is safe and helps them to live as comfortably and independently as possible. As age-related functional decline occurs and other possible conditions arise an individual’s ability to interact with or even make sense of their environment may be impacted (Dementia: Care for People Living in the Community, 2018).
Providers should establish a connection with appropriate supports who can help ensure that housing is safe and meets the needs of the older adult and their caregivers.
Table of Contents
Living Safely with Dementia
Over the course of a person’s dementia, living environments need to be modified to help the person navigate their surroundings, support their independence, and reduce their feelings of confusion and stress. Design modifications may include non-slip floor coverings, handrails in the shower and beside the toilet to provide support and balance, heat and smoke sensors, and memory cues.
When people living with dementia are no longer able to live safely and independently in their home, they may consider moving to a more supported care setting, such as a supportive or assisted living facility, a retirement home, or a long-term care home.
Long Term Care
In order to be admitted to a long term care home, the person must consent to the admission. If the person is incapable of consenting, then the Substitute Decision Maker, as determined by Section 20 of the Health Care Consent Act, must consent on their behalf.
The Local Health Integration Network Home and Community Care is responsible for access, eligibility and evaluation for Long Term Care.
Unstable Housing
The rural area of Wellington County presents different issues for older adults accessing social services in comparison to the City of Guelph. Low population density in rural areas means that it is not financially viable to establish emergency shelters, and so the majority of homelessness support services are located in Guelph. It is also important to note that the current shelters available may not be suitable and/or accessible for the older adults you support (A Place to Call Home, 2019).
Unstable Housing Resources & Links
Housing Stability Programs
In general, the demand for subsidized housing greatly outweighs the supply, as a result there is a large waiting list for social housing units.
The County of Wellington currently offers a range of Housing Stability Programmes, including referrals to financial assistance, rent banks and emergency energy funds; landlord education and information on tenant rights and responsibilities; and Housing Community Support Workers who provide outreach. In addition, the County has begun working on an Eviction Prevention Policy which will introduce strategies to support tenants at risk of eviction from becoming homeless (A Place to Call Home, 2019).
Housing Stability Programs Resources & Links
- Wellington County Affordable Housing Application
- Drop In Centre Guelph: Community space in downtown Guelph that offers a multitude of services, especially for those living on a limited income. It provides a place to meet with frie
- Guelph Wellington Women in Crisis: Transitional and Housing Support
- Thresholds Homes and Supports: Crisis Respite (May not be suitable for all older adults – review for suitability and accessibility)
Retirement Home Subsidy
The County of Wellington currently has formal service agreements with Retirement Homes in the City of Guelph and throughout Wellington County. A Supportive Housing Caseworker will meet with older adults applying for financial support in order to determine initial and ongoing eligibility.
Diogenes Syndrome
Diogenes syndrome (DS) is a behavioral disorder of the elderly. Symptoms include living in domestic squalor, extreme self-neglect, and unhygienic conditions. This is accompanied by a self-imposed isolation, the refusal of external help, lack of shame and a tendency to accumulate unusual objects (Cipriani, G et al., 2012; and Irvine, J., & Nwachukwu, K., 2014).
A diagnosis of diogenes syndrome can be difficult as no one constellation of symptoms has been established. Additionally, management can be difficult, as individuals often deny that there is a problem, may refuse any help, and can present late to medical attention, often in crisis (Irvine, J., & Nwachukwu, K., 2014).
Diogenes Syndrome Resources & Links
Domestic Squalor
Squalor is different from hoarding in that there is no intentional saving or acquiring of items. Build-up is instead due to neglect or inability to remove the items. The individual’s home is generally in a state of disrepair, may look unclean or unkempt. The state of the home may or may not cause distress, however it does present to have a negative impact on the health and wellbeing of the individuals who reside there. (WGHR, 2019)
Hoarding
The word “hoarding” is often used to describe a person’s home that has such a large number of items that the livable spaces in their home are significantly reduced.
For some people, these items make their space feel homey and inviting, for others, they make the space feel distracting and chaotic. With age-related functional decline, it is important to consider how living environments with a large number of items can create safety concerns.
The Wellington Guelph Hoarding Response (WGHR) represents a committed group of organizations in Guelph Wellington that have come together to provide support and resources for persons with hoarding challenges.
Hoarding Resources & Links
Resources are available for service providers who have encountered highly cluttered situations as a part of their work.
