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GEM Healthcare Services > Articles by: admin
One of many GEM clients who appreciates the personalized, compassionate care he receives on a regular basis.
Home care

GEM partnership with City of Ottawa provides support for low-income clients

For over ten years, GEM Health Care Services has been engaged in a partnership with
the City of Ottawa to provide support for low-income social services clients, delivering
much-needed care services tailored to individual needs.

“From the outset, I knew I wanted to grow the company to a point where we would be
able to leverage our leadership position in the health care services industry to support
those who might not otherwise be able to receive care,” says GEM’s founder, President
and CEO Gaye Moffett. “Our team members take great pride in delivering the same
compassionate care to all clients, including vulnerable populations, to allow them to live
more comfortably and safely at home.”

Currently, GEM has over 500 social services clients to whom support is provided for
various aspects of what the City designates as homemaking services. These include
cleaning, dusting, vacuuming, laundry and changing linens, plus assisting with grocery
ordering and simple meal preparation tasks.

The difference that these in-home support workers make is valued and tangible.
“Oftentimes we are the main event in their week,” notes Gaye. “We are eyes and ears to
check on wellness; clients look forward to spending some time with our caregivers who
provide warm, empathetic support which enables them to maintain their standard of
living and avoid homelessness.”

Because of this hands-on role, GEM is well positioned to observe when additional
resources might be necessary to ensure an individual is receiving appropriate care. In
these instances, GEM will liaise with the City of Ottawa’s case coordinators who will
then look after securing the necessary referrals for additional assessment and/or
support.

One of many GEM clients who appreciates the personalized, compassionate care he receives on a regular basis.
One of many GEM clients who appreciates the personalized, compassionate care he receives on a regular basis.

GEM is ideally suited to this longstanding relationship with the City of Ottawa as it is
able to leverage decades of experience providing care to individuals with physical,
mental and emotional impairments. In addition, GEM’s dedicated office coordinator
overseeing the program has exemplary skills in managing the clients and scheduling
staff.

“This partnership with the city is something we are honoured to have,” adds Gaye. “It’s
about giving back to the community. We love making a difference and providing a better
quality of life for those who might otherwise fall through the cracks of the stretched
health and care networks.”

If you feel yourself or a family member may meet the financial eligibility requirements for
City of Ottawa Home Support Services, call 613-580-2424 x24994 (or 3-1-1) and
request a referral to GEM Health Care Services. Details regarding the program can be
found on the city’s website.

Voting in Canadian Election With National Flag Backdrop Generative AI
Advocacy, Home care, Legislation

Increased home care funding a key Ontario election issue

Voters encouraged to press candidates for their views

Now that the writ has dropped for a snap election in Ontario, key provincial and national seniors’ advocacy groups are urgently calling for the next session of the legislature to approve increased funding to ensure the growing demand for home care is addressed.

Home Care Ontario has issued an appeal for further investments that would provide over 16 million more hours of home care for seniors and their families across the province. In addition, the Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP) has officially endorsed Home Care Ontario’s call for further funding.  

For candidates in this election, the message is simple – it is paramount that all political parties prioritize care and supports for seniors, including significantly expanding the amount of home care available to help them stay safe and healthy at home.

Gaye Moffett, Founder, President and CEO of GEM Health Care Services, sits on the board of Home Care Ontario. “Home care wasn’t even mentioned in budgets 30 years ago but now it’s a hot button issue,” she says. “There isn’t one Ontarian that doesn’t want to stay at home as long as they can but without increased funding, home care services will be unattainable for many.”

Additional funding is required to support the ‘home first’ approach which experts agree is a win-win, improving quality of life for older adults while efficiently utilizing healthcare resources. By prioritizing home care over hospital or long-term care stays, seniors’ dignity and quality of life is preserved. The requested funding will support Home Care Ontario’s recommendations to support and grow the home care sector, which include:

• Increasing the number of visits and hours of home care provided by 10% a year for the next three years

• Investing $624 million over three years to improve compensation and help the sector attract and retain home care staff

• Providing specialized training and mentorship to retain skilled home care staff

• Enhancing the Ontario Seniors Care at Home Tax Credit and remove the existing barriers to support increased Home Care services for Ontarians.

“This is an issue that affects everyone,” notes Moffett. “Whatever stage you are at, you should be concerned about the future of home care and you need to remember that the government is not going to fully take care of you or loved ones’ financial needs as the requirement for care services increases.”

Moffett says it is her sincere hope that the next Ontario government agrees with this request for funding that has been widely endorsed. “I hope to see it get put into the next provincial budget for approval and that money begins to flow promptly, as has not always happened in the past,” she says. “We are counting on the government to do the right thing for seniors.”

Moffett and her counterparts encourage all voters to raise the issue with candidates in their provincial ridings. For more information, visit www.homenothallways.ca  or contact us at GEM Health Care Services.

Advocacy, Home care, Legislation, Long term care, Uncategorized

Why the time for a more accessible Seniors’ Tax Credit is now

Senior Couple at Home Office Reviewing Financial Documents and Consulting Tax Advisor for Retirement Planning
Senior Couple at Home Office Reviewing Financial Documents

If you or one of your loved ones is among Ontario’s over-80 population – or approaching that age – you might be interested in the current push to implement an enhanced Seniors’ Tax Credit in our province. The timing couldn’t be more urgent, given that Ontario’s 80+ population is set to double between 2023 and 2040. Properly administered, a Seniors’ Tax Credit will enable seniors to live and receive care in their homes and communities longer, saving long term care (LTC) spaces and hospital beds for those who need them most.

The call for a more accessible Seniors’ Tax Credit is backed by a group of health care, senior living, and real estate organizations in Ontario who understand the vital role it can play in our entire health care and housing continuum. This coalition of organizations is leading the charge to persuade the provincial government to implement a tax benefit that will truly work for Ontario’s seniors. Quebec’s new program serves as a valid model; thanks to its seniors’ tax credit, that province has reduced its LTC waitlist to just over 3,700 as of October 2024, versus 47,000 in Ontario.

One of the key aims is the desire to get rid of the ‘grey market’, whereby unlicensed providers are delivering some seniors’ home care services, often under the table. The legitimate organizations providing services have a powerful, united voice and agree wholeheartedly with a recent C.D. Howe Institute research paper which outlines the need for provinces to implement smart policies to address our growing senior population and economic challenges faced by some seniors. 

The 2022 Ontario budget did introduce a new refundable personal income tax credit called the Ontario Seniors Care at Home Tax Credit (OSCAH). However, the steps to qualify for OSCAH pose a challenge in that seniors must apply and be approved for a federal disability certificate in order to claim part-time attendant care in their homes as an eligible medical expense. As a result, the vast majority of home care recipients have difficulty claiming these expenses and receiving their credit. 

We all know that Ontario’s healthcare system is already stretched to the limit, and more funding alone won’t solve the capacity challenges. To sustain our healthcare system as baby boomers age, leveraging seniors’ care capacity outside of the publicly funded LTC and hospital sectors must be part of the solution. Based on current numbers, an enhanced Seniors’ Tax Credit would allow for 2400 seniors to be diverted from the LTC waitlist to be cared for in the community.

As mentioned, a more accessible tax credit will help seniors afford the necessary services that will enable them to age in the communities of their choice. It would also incentivize senior-focused development and unlock more housing units for young Ontarians who want to start families. If you agree that the time for change in Ontario is now, we encourage you to contact your local Member of Provincial Parliament and add your voice to the chorus pushing for a more accessible Seniors’ Tax Credit. For more information, please visit the Seniors’ Tax Credit website or contact us at GEM Health Care Services.

A medical professional administering a vaccine, showcasing public health and disease
Uncategorized

Promoting workplace health: Why employers should facilitate flu shots this winter

As the winter season looms, it is time for employers to consider accommodating the administration of flu shots at their workplace in order to protect people, says GEM Health Care’s Gaye Moffett. 

“Get the flu shot!” she urges. “You want your staff to stay healthy, and I know now there’s a lot of work-from-home, but you want staff to stay healthy, right? And you don’t want them to infect others,” Moffett says. 

Public health authorities have declared the end of October into November as the ideal time to update your flu shot, and GEM has been commissioned by several large organizations and corporations to administer workplace shots. These include accounting firms and investment firms, which face intense deadlines and long workdays spent attempting to meet deadlines. Employers want those workers to remain free of illness, Moffett says. 

And the more people who receive a flu shot, the better, as it will encourage herd immunity. It will also protect vulnerable populations, such as the elderly and the very young. While the flu shot will not necessarily prevent everyone from getting sick, it will diminish symptoms and assuage some suffering. 

Encourage herd immunity

Moffett would like to dispel the myth that getting the flu shot causes you to get the flu or flu symptoms. 

“What may have happened to them is that they may have been exposed to the virus before they took the flu shot, which makes them vulnerable to the virus, so they come down with the flu,” she says.

“You don’t know when you kind of get it. And then you have the shot, and it takes about five to 10 days for it to work within your body to build your immunity, and then you’re protected.”

And if you had a flu shot last year, that does not negate you from getting an additional shot this season. That’s because immunity only extends for six months.

“Even if people got it last year, they still need to get it,” Moffett says. 

Moffett says that every party that provides flu shots must be certified by the province, which GEM is. This means they meet a long list of criteria in order to be qualified to administer the shots, including proper refrigeration capabilities and trained healthcare workers. “ I have to prove that I’m a bona fide organization, that I have the insurance, and that I’ve got the capacity,” Moffett says. 

GEM Health Care certainly has the capacity to help prevent the spread of flu this season, and workplaces are urged to take advantage of their expertise and the ease of in-office immunization that GEM provides.

Serious curly haired woman manages household family budget calculates expenditures takes care of finances and savings sits at table with receipts dressed in domestic clothes poses at home
Advocacy, Aging in place, Family, Home care, Legislation

Why helping families pay for home care makes sense

For seniors, aging-in-place at home is the most comfortable, safe, and affordable option.

That’s why Gaye Moffett is on the board of Home Care Ontario, to work closely with other home care advocates to keep their work top of mind with every level of government.

Here’s what they’re working on right now to get families more support:

Home care co-payments and tax credits

Right now, anyone admitted to a long-term care facility only pays part of the cost. The government subsidizes the rest. 

As an alternative to moving people to a long-term care facility,  Gaye is advocating for a co-pay option to support clients at home. It’s a good investment for the government to make. With less overhead, providing care at home is more cost-effective than at a facility.

Other government incentives are also on the table, such as enhancing tax credits like the Ontario Seniors Care at Home (OSCAH) tax credit, and exempting family-funded care from sales taxes like the HST.

Raising the reputation, visibility and awareness of family-funded home care

One of the biggest challenges home care providers face is the invisibility of the work they do.

When you drive past a hospital or long-term care facility, you know there are people being cared for within those walls. It’s easy to forget that care is also being provided in people’s private homes.

Gaye and her colleagues are raising awareness by advocating for accreditation for family-funded care providers, agency licensing, an authority to over see allied health, and stronger enforcement of labour standards in the grey market to protect people from unlicensed ‘caregivers’ advertising their services on Kijiji.

Contributing to health system transformation

With health system transformation underway due to the pandemic, Gaye wants people to know how family-funded care providers are contributing to those efforts.

That’s why they’re sending educational materials to Ontario Health Teams (OHTs) about their work. 

They’re also engaging the OHTs directly to explain why enhancing home care services is a better option than creating ‘add-on’ services via retirement homes, which come with overhead costs similar to long-term care facilities.

For Gaye and her fellow advocates, investing in home care just makes sense.

AdobeStock 463878249 scaled
Advocacy

When it comes to navigating home care, we have your back

Finding help for your loved one when they need it the most is never easy.

That’s why Gaye Moffett truly is a ‘gem’ (pardon the pun) when it comes to advocating for her clients and the public in general.

Here are a few ways she pitches in: 

Talking to insurance companies

Being fortunate enough to have private insurance may be a wonderful thing, but getting it approved can sometimes be a challenge.

Insurance companies need to know that the care you need reaches the threshold for a nurse, not just homemaking or personal care.

If for some reason you get turned down, you may not know what to do next. 

This is where Gaye steps in on behalf of her clients. She will contact your insurance company herself and explain why a nursing level of care is required, which helps speed up the approval process.

Representing her clients with Home Care Ontario 

One of the benefits of the Canadian healthcare system is that it combines public options with family-funded care.

This creates a flexibility that allows folks with private insurance to supplement what they’re already eligible for. However, this can also make the system more complex and tough to navigate.

That’s why Gaye takes an active role with Home Care Ontario, to be aware of gaps in the system so she can advocate for family-funded care providers.

By staying in the loop, Gaye helps her clients get the care they need while reducing demand on the public system.

Identifies and advocates for key pieces of legislation to reduce home care costs for Ontarians

By networking with other home care professionals and developing strong working relationships with officials at every level of government, Gaye has her eye on the big picture. 

Through her understanding of how each level of government supports home care services for all Canadians, she can effectively advocate for specific legislation changes. 

In addition to playing a part in the Ontario government’s legislation that requires the licensing of Temporary Help Agencies, Gaye is working behind the scenes on two more key pieces of legislation that will make home care more affordable at the provincial and federal levels.

GEM nurse psw 20240124 093806 0000
Home care

When do I need a nurse vs. a personal support worker?

“I need a nurse,” is what Gaye Moffett often hears when she picks up the phone.

But a nurse may not be the level of care you or your loved one needs right now to live comfortably at home for as long as possible.

So how do you know you’re getting the right level of care? 

In Ontario, the first step is to call 310-2222 (no area code required) to find the Home and Community Care Support Service provider in your area.

They’ll assign a case manager to assess your situation and determine whether you need a nurse or personal support worker. Once that’s done you can top up your eligible hours with a family-funded provider like GEM.

Here’s what to expect from the professionals who will be helping you. 

When you need a nurse

As a rule, you don’t need a nurse unless you are acutely ill or injured, or have a chronic condition that requires ongoing nursing support, like having a peg tube that needs to be cleaned regularly to prevent infection.

While there are two types of nurses — registered nurses (RNs) and registered practical nurses (RPNs) — you can rest assured that they’re all registered with the College of Nurses of Ontario. 

For the most part they carry out the same duties, but RNs are typically responsible for planning and monitoring care, while RPNs carry the plan out. 

Care plans could include administering medications, wound care, changing dressings, monitoring blood pressure, administering oxygen therapy and collecting specimens. 

When you need personal support 

Personal support workers, home support workers, and companions are the people who help you live in your home independently, while lowering the risk of illness or injury that could land you in the hospital.

Personal support workers (PSWs) are college-trained, certified professionals who help people with their activities of daily living (ADLs) like bathing and dressing. Sounds simple, but knowing how to transfer someone safely in and out of the tub with a lift requires specific training.

Home support workers (HSWs) are also certified and trained in their field, and assist in all facets of home management, including meal preparation, light housekeeping, and assistance with shopping.

Companions who work for GEM must complete the company’s training course. Sitters ensure the safety and security of a client by assisting with all levels of companionship, emotional support and activity attendance. They are able to accompany a resident to and from appointments and record information as required.

In a world where it’s clear most people want to live at home, and delivering care at home is the most cost effective option for our health system, calling on GEM to make it possible could be the option for you and your family. Call (613) 761-7474 to learn more.

COVID mask fitting
Quality, Safety, Security

Get your mask tested for COVID season

It’s the only way to know — for sure — if you’re protected

Knowing your mask is worth wearing means having it tested. 

Gaye Moffett has been conducting these tests for more than 20 years and has fit-tested more than 50,000 people. She learned how in 2003 when the original coronovirus landed in Canada: SARS.

It’s one reason her staff were outfitted with masks that met that standard throughout the pandemic, but Moffett says this test isn’t just for healthcare providers.

GEM will test anyone who wants to ensure their mask has the quality and fit they need to protect themselves and their loved ones.

Which mask do I need?

The key to ensuring your mask works is material and fit.

Cloth masks — as well as the blue surgical masks — won’t cut it.

What you need is an N95 mask that has been fitted to your face. Moffett recommends 3M manufactured N95 masks, the company that invented the test during SARS.

She cautions against using similar products, but says some can still work with an adjustment.

“While the KN95 masks can be effective, we found that the straps were failing,” said Moffett. “But if it’s what you have on hand, you can wear an ear protector to extend the life of the straps and make it more comfortable.”

How do I know if my mask works?

There are two aspects to a functioning mask: materials and fit.

The test 3M invented for their own products involves using a spray that doesn’t smell very good. 

“It’s Bitrex, the same non-toxic but bitter-tasting substance people use to stop biting their fingernails,” said Moffett.

Anyone wearing a cloth or blue surgical mask can detect the bitter scent because those masks don’t provide an adequate seal. 

And if someone wearing an N95 mask can smell it, there’s a problem with fit.

Who can get their mask tested?

During the pandemic, GEM tested masks largely for healthcare and construction workers.

Today, people who need the test may be living or working with someone who’s vulnerable to COVID, or vulnerable themselves.

That’s why any member of the public can get their mask tested for a fee. Getting tested costs $64.50 if you bring your own mask, and $70 when you buy a mask from GEM.

“The entire process takes 20 minutes from start to finish,” said Moffett. 

The only masks GEM tests are: 

  • 3M™ full and half 6100 mask series
  • P100 North full and half mask Series
  • Scott AV 3000 respirator

Contact GEM to set up an appointment with their mask-fitting clinic on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Untitled design
Aging in place, Family, Home care, Long term care

How to talk to your family about future planning

“The only way I’m leaving my home is in a pine box,” is what people often say when the topic of future planning is broached, no matter how sensitively or carefully.

Gaye Moffet’s response to that comment is, “Okay. Let’s plan for that.” 

Because the only way to truly safeguard our autonomy and independence as we age-in-place is to have a plan.

Fortunately there are tools we can use to make sure we’re taken care of the way we want. That said, it’s not an easy topic to broach with your family over dinner. 

Here are a few tips to be proactive when it’s time to start this difficult conversation.

Keep it practical: start with low hanging fruit

Before delving into any conversations about home care or long-term care, start by encouraging or helping your loved one choose their Powers of Attorney, including a Power of Attorney for Personal Care and a Continuing Power of Attorney for Property.

Designating a trusted person who will respect your wishes if you’re unable to make them yourself is the best way to prevent the government from stepping in and taking over. 

Inviting your loved ones to talk about Powers of Attorney can also open the door to completing other documents, like advance directives and a will.

What’s critical is keeping your loved one’s wishes at the heart of the conversation and emphasizing that writing them down will make it easier for someone else to know and respect what they want. 

Respond quickly during crucial moments

Often the first big loss of autonomy and independence comes when a doctor has to suspend a patient’s driver’s licence for safety reasons.

It’s a big blow, but it could be a chance for the family to come together to make sure their loved one will get what they need and stay engaged with the community.

It can also be the catalyst to talk about downsizing and moving closer to family, or possible to an easy-to-manage residence with the amenities they need.

And if the rest of your family isn’t engaged in future planning yet, moments like this can be a good time to pull them in so everyone is thinking about how they can help. 

Getting everyone involved will prevent caregiver burnout and possibly another crisis where your loved one’s choices are suddenly limited.

Continuing to emphasize that your loved one’s autonomy and independence is what’s most important. 

Connect and engage by listening first

While broaching the right topic at the right time is a good start, it can still be easy for emotions to get high. 

Gaye’s advice applies here as well: let’s plan for that.

Don’t forget that these are tough topics. The future we’re discussing is one where someone we love can’t live independently or worse, is no longer with us. Who wouldn’t get emotional? 

When feeling run high, we bring our own personality and ways of coping into the mix, whether it’s responding with anger, sadness, grief, or denial. These are just normal reactions to difficult situations, so don’t judge yourself or anyone else for how they’re reacting. 

Just know yourself and prepare, because what happens when we’re not grounded isn’t always pretty. We’re all capable of being patronizing, irritated, manipulative or dramatic. And it could lead us to call in reinforcements and make our loved one feel like we’re ganging up on them.

All that can be prevented by simply listening. 

Start by asking your loved one questions about what they want, then listen carefully and repeat back what was said so they know they’ve been heard before you weigh in with your own thoughts, opinions and needs. They’re important too, but your loved one needs to know they’re the one who’s in charge of what’s going to happen. You can show that by listening.

Other ways to keep the conversation constructive are:

  • using other people’s situation as an example
  • providing print materials so they have something to refer to while reflecting
  • writing down your concerns if having a conversation isn’t working
  • offering to help with research into their options
  • avoiding words like ‘a home’ or ‘nursing home’

Remember to ask for help if you need it

If you’ve tried everything and feel like you’ve hit a wall, it could be time to bring in a third-party expert who your loved one will trust to be neutral and provide straightforward, helpful information.

Gaye Moffett has been advising families with care planning for decades and has likely heard a story similar to yours.

You can get in touch with Gaye by calling 613-761-7474 in Ottawa or in 905-836-6999 in GTA.