Home-Makers, Home-Helpers, Companions, Caregivers:
Experienced persons who come into your home and do light house keeping duties, laundry/ironing, meal preparations, run errands and accompany clients to appointments.

PCW/HSW (Personal Care/Home Support Worker):
PCWs assist with the elderly, convalescent or disabled persons living in their own homes or in a hospital. They assist with personal care, such as bathing, dressing, assist with braces, wheelchairs, walkers, toileting and continence care. Medication reminders, help with simple prescribed exercises, meal preparation, light house keeping chores, laundry/ironing, and accompany client to appointments and shopping.

CCA (Continuing Care Assistant):
An individual who provides assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) to individuals of all ages in a variety of settings. CCAs hold a provincial certification from the Department of Health. CCAs have completed all components of the CCA Program from a recognized education provider and have passed the provincial examination, or equivalent (the achievement of the CCA designation by Nova Scotia certified Home Support Workers, Home Health Providers (Home Health Aides), and Personal Care Workers through the completion of required additional learning outcomes provided by an approved education program.

LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse):
LPNs are trained and qualified to perform a wide range of nursing competencies including administering medications, completing health care assessments and caring for patients throughout the life span.
LPNs are prepared to provide nursing services for a variety of patients in diverse settings, including acute care, palliative care, long term care or continuing care, ambulatory care, the patients’ home, and/or in the community at large.

RN (Registered Nurse):
A Registered Nurse provides patient care under a physician's direction.
RNs regardless of specialty or work setting, treat and educate patients and the public about various medical conditions, and provide advice and emotional support to patient’s family members.
RNs record patients’ medical histories and symptoms, help perform diagnostic tests and analyze results, operate machinery, administer treatment and medications’ and help with patient follow-up and rehabilitation.

Patient Care Aide, Hospital Sitter, Patient Attendant:
An experienced care worker usually assigned to a hospital patient to assist the nursing staff when the patient requires round-the-clock supervision. They do not provide hands-on care. They are sometimes asked to provide overnight monitoring in the client's home.

Palliative Care:
This service is provided to chronically or terminally ill patients who prefer the peace, comfort and dignity of being at home. This care is where nurses or health care professionals can help the patients and their families when they are dealing with the inevitable loss of a loved one.

Respite Care:
Short-term or temporary care of a few hours, days or weeks duration to provide relief, or respite, to the regular caregiver, usually a family member.
The respite worker could be either a personal care worker or a nurse.

Long Term Care:
This service not only benefits the patient but also provides peace of mind for families who worry about the safety of their loved one. Patients, with multiple conditions such as, Stroke, Depression, Dementia or Alzheimer’s receive the individualized care they need that allows them to remain in their environment.
Depending on the level of care that is needed, services are provided by Nurses or Health Care providers.

Live-In Care:
This is the most cost effective, affordable service available for anyone who needs assistance to remain in their own home. This service is for those clients who have chronic low-level problems and need a little extra help. This service provides extra help in managing everyday activities.
Meals and sleeping accommodations for the homecare staff are included. The homecare staff should be assured of approx 7 hours of rest, although they are on-call during rest periods. The live-in homecare staff will require a break during each 7 day period of no less than 4 hrs - if a family member is unable to provide this, another relief homecare staff will be required.

24 Hour Care:
When the homecare staff is awake at all times. This usually requires three 8hr shifts or two 12hr shifts.

ADLs (activities of daily living), IADLs (instrumental activities of daily living):
...coming soon....

Minimum numbers of hours:
All providers/agencies will have a stated minimum number of hours per shift or visit for their homecare staff. There may be a different minimum for different staff categories.

Transfer Assistance:
If the client needs two persons to lift or transfer for safety of the client and our homecare staff . If a family member is not available additional homecare staff will be scheduled (at the stated minimum number of hours) to assist the homecare staff on duty.

Mileage:
There are usually additional per-kilometer charges for clients outside of the agency's operating area, when homecare staff run errands for the client, and when the homecare staff transports the client.

Transportation of clients:
Not all providers/agencies have the additional insurance required for homecare staff to transport clients to appointments, shopping, etc. An additional fee and/or mileage will usually be charged.

Supplies & Equipment:
Clients are responsible for providing medical & other personal supplies such as diapers, gloves, pads, walkers, canes, crutches etc.