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Advocacy, Home care, Taxes & Finances

Canada Disability Tax Credit offers key financial relief for seniors and their families

Did you know there is a little-known federal benefit available across Canada for individuals with medically-verified disabilities? Qualifying for the Canadian Disability Tax Credit (DTC) opens access to several other significant federal, provincial, and territorial programs, benefits, and tax deductions. By reducing the amount of income tax payable, the DTC aims to offset some of the extra costs related to impairment, thereby offering an important way to extend one’s resources and potentially access additional help as needed. Read an overview of the program here. 

At GEM Health Care, we have significant experiencing helping clients, or their family members, apply for the DTC. We’re happy to share some details of the program with you:

Eligibility

You may be eligible for the DTC if a medical practitioner certifies that you have a severe and prolonged impairment in one of the approved categories (e.g. walking, mental functions, vision and more), or significant limitations in two or more approved categories, or receive therapy to support a vital function. Read more about the eligibility criteria here. 

Applying for the credit

The individual, or their legal representative, initiates the application by completing Part A of form T2201 online, by phone or with paper forms. Once a reference number for the application has been issued, the appropriate medical practitioner (e.g. physician, nurse practitioner, optometrist, psychologist, etc.) completes Part B online. Find details about the application process here. 

When to apply

You may apply for the DTC at any time during the year. However, to avoid a possible delay, it is better to submit your application before you file your tax return. If you intend to split or transfer the credit, it will save you time to include the supporting family member information in Part A, question 2 of the DTC application.

Key advantages

Financial Relief and Tax Savings: these include a non-refundable federal tax credit; provincial tax credits (e.g. Ontario Disability Support Program) may also be available. The credit is transferable, so if the person with the disability doesn’t need the full credit, it can be transferred to a supporting family member. This is defined as someone who the person with the impairment depends on for at least one of the basic necessities of life.

Retroactive Refunds: If eligible, you can apply for up to 10 previous years and potentially receive a lump-sum refund for previously unclaimed credits.

Access to other financial programs: Being eligible for the DTC may help you access other federal programs such as:

Simplified Tax Planning

Once approved, the DTC can be claimed annually without reapplying unless the impairment condition changes.

Summary

If you or someone in your family has a severe and prolonged impairment, applying for the DTC could unlock thousands of dollars in savings and support.  For additional information, we encourage you to contact us so we can help guide you through the process of applying for and receiving the Disability Tax Credit.

Elderly and caregiver in winter
Home care, Safety

Home health care services can ease families’ worries

As winter approaches, it’s a good time to assess whether someone you care about could benefit from personalized home health care and/or support services during the cold, icy months ahead. For individuals with mobility issues or chronic health conditions, for example, winter can make even the simplest daily tasks extremely difficult. Add in the sense of isolation that can come with spending more time indoors with fewer visitors, and the potential for a greatly diminished quality of life becomes very real. The solution? GEM Health Care Services can provide a crucial backup support system that ensures safety, delivers companionship, and safeguards well-being throughout the long winter season. 

Nursing services

GEM’s Registered Nurses and Registered Practical Nurses can provide home visits – even ones of very short durations – to deliver personalized care and reduce the need for clients to visit clinics or hospitals during peak cold, flu, RSV and COVID season. They are trained to administer medication and intravenous therapy, provide wound care, deliver foot and nail care and much more. They can also liaise with our personal support workers (PSWs) should they believe additional home care supports are warranted. Our team-based approach provides great relief from worry for clients and their families. 

Comprehensive support

Some of the many services that GEM’s PSWs can provide include assisting with meal preparation; light housekeeping including cleaning and laundry; personal care services such as bathing, toileting and dressing; medication reminders; exercise assistance; support for cognitive health and numerous other tasks. GEM’s experienced PSWs will also reach out to our nursing team should they feel further action is warranted on any health-related issues.

Safety first

Not only can home care staff assist with transfers within the home, but they can also provide stability and support to help individuals when navigating slippery entranceways, steps, walkways and sidewalks or when entering and exiting vehicles.  

Essential errands

Our PSWs can accompany clients to the grocery store, medical appointments, the library or seniors’ centre. They can also assist with organizing key deliveries such as prescriptions or other supplies, to reduce clients’ need to spend time outdoors in extreme weather.

Caring companionship

Just as it can be difficult or even dangerous for seniors or any individual with mobility challenges to leave home, it can be similarly challenging for family members to make the trip to see friends or relatives during the winter months. Having regular visits from care staff who are eager to engage and provide stimulating companionship provides vital social and emotional contact.  

Peace of mind

Snowbirds or others who enjoy travelling throughout the year may be hesitant to embark on their journeys if they have a friend or family member who is relying upon them for support. In addition, when distance or weather makes it difficult to check on a friend or family member, it can be nerve-wracking to wonder how they are truly doing without being able to see them in person. Our trained, compassionate team members are always attentive to any issues with the individual or their home environment that may need to be addressed.  

Give GEM a try! 

We often hear that individuals are reluctant to accept that they need additional support to maintain their dignity and quality of life but once they give our services a try for the winter, they usually want to continue to receive assistance as they find it improves their well-being substantially. If you feel these services could benefit you or your loved one, contact GEM and we can make arrangements to have someone from our team onsite very quickly – sometimes within 24 hours.

young female professional doctor giving consultation asian senior couple with using tablet computer in the room
Family, Home care

Key questions to ask when looking for a home health care company

When you realize you need caregiving support for yourself or a loved one, it can be a stressful time. Asking the right questions as you talk with service providers can help you get the answers you need to make the best decision for your unique circumstances. Below are some of the most frequently asked questions GEM receives on a regular basis along with the corresponding answers we provide.

How long has your company been in business?


GEM has been providing trusted, reliable home health care services for over thirty years. We are a family-owned business offering care services to individuals seeking personal support, nursing care (via RNs and RPNs) as well as home support and companionship. Our corporate motto, our family for yours, encapsulates our commitment to providing the best, most compassionate care possible. We are fully licensed and active, accredited members of the Canadian Home Care Association and Home Care Ontario.

How quickly are you able to arrange a caregiver placement?

Our experienced case managers will be able to quickly assess your needs via a telephone meeting or in-person visit, if necessary, before promptly matching you with a trained caregiver. Often this process can be completed within just a few days of your initial call to GEM.

How do you recruit staff?

We have numerous effective methods for recruiting reliable nursing professionals and personal caregivers including job fairs, focused advertising and more. All personnel are required to undergo a rigorous screening process and successfully complete a background check. Comprehensive on-the-job training is provided whenever necessary.

What are your processes for quality control and communication?

GEM has long-established, highly effective processes and quality control measures, including a robust case management system which facilitates monitoring the status of each client engagement. Any issues or concerns are communicated promptly to the client’s loved ones and proactive communication is undertaken regularly by GEM’s team as well. Our phones are staffed 24/7 so we can be reached at any time, should you have questions.

If the caregiver-client match proves incompatible, what happens next?

Our rigorous screening and matching process helps to ensure the best fit for each client’s care needs. However, in the very rare instances where it becomes necessary for us to find a new caregiver, we work quickly to place a new individual from among our large roster of care providers.

What services do you provide?

We provide a broad range of one-on-one home healthcare and personal support services in a variety of locations including clients’ private homes, retirement homes and institutional settings. Our clients range from infants to the very elderly. We also offer nursing care in the same locations. Our professional companion services are available to improve clients’ overall well-being, decrease feelings of isolation, and accompany them to appointments if needed. Please visit the services section of our website for more information or contact us for details.

What is the minimum shift length for your care workers?

Typically, shifts are at least four hours in length, to allow sufficient time for the worker to complete their tasks while providing companionship and conversation as well as relaying any issues or concerns to the individual’s family and our case management team. Depending upon the circumstances, shorter shifts may be possible (for example, if providing respite care to supplement government-provided services).

Do you provide live-in caregivers?

GEM does not provide live-in caregivers for several reasons, the most significant being that there are labour laws which govern workweek length. Weekend coverage is also an issue. Instead, we find that providing quality workers in shifts of up to 12 hours in length offers our clients superior care without the need of a live-in worker.

Does your company have experience with clients who have specific needs, such as dementia or mobility issues?

Yes, GEM has extensive experience dealing with clients of all ages who have special needs. From accident or surgery-induced mobility problems to genetic conditions, illness or age-related mobility issues, dementia and more, we have seen it all and can easily develop the most appropriate care plan for each client.

Health Care worker with senior patient and family
Family, Home care

Collaborative Approach A Key Differentiator For GEM

The concept of collaborative health care is garnering much attention and for good reasons. This team-based approach involves multiple healthcare professionals, patients, and families working together to deliver the highest quality care. Having various experts share their knowledge and insights to develop individualized treatment plans not only enhances the patient experience; it also improves health care system efficiency and optimizes patient outcomes.


GEM has long recognized that a similarly collaborative approach to home health care offers the best results. “We are firm advocates for identifying shared goals, sharing decision-making and drafting a care plan that ensures key needs are consistently met in a timely fashion,” says the company’s founder and CEO, Gaye Moffett. “This approach enables the person receiving care, their family members and the care providers to be on the same page and ensure the client’s best interests are always at the forefront.”


Collaborative care is equally important whether the client is living independently at home, receiving periodic assistance in a semi-autonomous setting such as a retirement home, or requiring more intensive support in a long-term care facility.


“Regardless of the setting or the needs of the individual, we always offer a personal approach and this has been key to both client satisfaction and our company’s longstanding success,” adds Gaye. “We have a thorough intake process to determine exactly what each client’s needs are, through home visits and telephone assessments. Similarly rigorous is the care we take in our approach to hiring and then matching our staff to clients; this is a key part of ensuring the highly individualized care plans we have created are executed successfully. Each person has unique requirements and we have been in business long enough to be experts at this assessment and matching process.”


Collaborative care is certainly nothing new to GEM; the company has utilized this approach for over 30 years and it has always been a hallmark of their professionalism. “Over 80% of our new business comes from word-of-mouth referrals, from satisfied clients or their families,” notes Gaye.


Open communication and effective care coordination are key components of GEM’s collaborative approach. “Whenever questions or issues arise, clients and families, as well as our staff members, know they can liaise 24/7 with our administrative coordinators can then draw in other individuals, such as our nursing supervisor, as needed. These coordinators are experts at getting expedited responses to ensure swift resolution,” explains Gaye. She emphasizes that GEM’s approach enhances client well-being as there is a consistency of care with the same hand-picked small team of staff attending regularly. “We know that when a health care service provider is not functioning like a well-oiled machine, there can be breakdowns in communication. There can be a lot of frustration when a client must explain their needs to a new person each day, so we work tirelessly to avoid that. We also ensure that issues are dealt with promptly and effectively by our front-line staff so clients’ health and dignity are maintained. Our approach has been proven to help people live safely in their homes for longer and we are very proud of that.”