Kristus Darzs Latvian Home is a 100-bed charitable publicly funded long-term care home. All long-term care homes are licensed and regulated by the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Long-Term Care. Long-term care homes are residential homes that provide ongoing care to people whose care needs cannot be met at home or in community housing settings such as retirement or supportive housing. The province has specific laws and regulations for admission to long-term care homes. Kristus Darzs is part of the Home and Community Care Support Services Central, Western York Region.
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- 18 years of age or older
- have a valid Ontario Health Card
- have health-care needs that cannot be met with any combination of caregiving in the home or community
- have care needs that can be met in a long-term care home
Services provided in a long-term care home include
- Nursing and personal care
- Assistance with activities of daily living
- Treatment and medication administration
- Meals
- Laundry services
- Social/recreational programs
- Pastoral care
In order to initiate an application to a long-term care home, the applicant’s Home & Community Care Support Services (HCCSS) office must be contacted. The initial call can be made by the applicant but usually it is a family member, friend, physician or Social Worker or Discharge Planner if the applicant is in the hospital. A complete health assessment and history are required and, therefore, a physician needs to complete the medical and functional assessments. An HCCSS appointed Case Manager Nurse visits with the applicant to determine if long term care placement is appropriate or if other home care supports need to be initiated. The applicant will be asked about their history, their support network, their ability to pay, where they would like to live and the type of accommodation they wish to apply for.
The Case Manager Nurse can provide options, information, and a list of long-term care homes. An applicant can select up to 5 homes they wish to apply to. If the applicant’s first or only choice for a long- term care home is Kristus Darzs, because they are of Latvian heritage, it is very important to clearly indicate to the Case Manager the applicant’s ethnic origin and first language. Once the HCCSS approves the application, the selected Homes are notified.
Various factors must be considered when choosing a potential Home:
- Is the Home convenient for family and friends to visit?
- Is the Home able to meet your religious, cultural, language and dietary needs?
- What special needs can the home accommodate (e.g. oxygen, scooters, electric wheelchairs)?
- Does the Home feel welcoming?
- Is the Home clean?
- Is there outdoor space for the residents?
- Do residents look content and well cared for?
- Do the activities at the home sound interesting and appealing?
- Are staff friendly, warm, and respectful?
- Does the menu sound appealing? Is there flexibility in choice of food?
- How is billing arranged?
- What are the extra charges, if any, for personal needs and services?
- How does the Home rate on the Facility Review Summary Report, publicly reported indicators and Public Report Card? For more information visit Ministry of Health and Ministry of Long Term Care
A tour of Kristus Darzs can be arranged by calling the Resident Support Services Manager at 905 832 3300 ext. 221.
If the Home approves the application the applicant is placed on the waitlist. KD does not confirm acceptance to the waitlist. However, if the application is rejected, KD informs the applicant and notifies the HCCSS Central office. The wait list is managed by the HCCSS and is organized by date of application acceptance, choice of accommodation type and ranking categories as defined by legislation. If an applicant is designated by the Case Manager as a crisis, the applicant is placed at the top of the wait list. The spousal reunification category is next, followed by applicants with religious, ethnic or linguistic origin. Since KD has a culturally specific designation, applicants of Latvian heritage fall into this category followed by all other applicants.
The wait times for long term care beds vary and can range from a few months to years depending on the choice of Home and type of accommodation. The HCCSS manages the wait list and bed offers.
There are 2 reasons a Home may reject an application:
- The long- term care home cannot provide the nursing care required
- The physical set-up of the Home cannot accommodate the needs of the applicant
When a bed becomes available, the applicant’s HCCSS Case Manager calls and makes the bed offer. A decision to accept or decline must be made within 24 hours.
If an applicant refuses a bed offer, they are removed from all waiting lists and are not be able to re-apply for 3 months unless there is a significant change in health status or circumstances. If a bed becomes available for a second or third choice Home and the applicant accepts placement, they can remain on the wait list for a transfer to the preferred choice Home, but this must be indicated at the time of acceptance.
Once the applicant accepts the bed offer, payment begins the next day and admission must be within the next 5 days.
The Home provides:
- Bed
- Chair
- Night table and dresser
- Lamp
- Linen, towels, blankets
- Personal hygiene and incontinence products
- Labelling for personal clothing and items
*Please note: KD does not have cable TV service. You will have to arrange for personal satellite service
Please bring:
- Health Card
- All the medication the resident takes
- Copy of Power of Attorney for Health and Property
- A cheque in order to set up direct withdrawal
- Clothing for approximately 5 -7 days
- Closed heel/ toe, non slip shoes
- Items to personalize the room- pictures, paintings etc.
Please do not bring:
- Heating Pads, irons
- Fridge, microwave
- Extension cords
- Clothing that needs to be dry cleaned
- Expensive jewellery
- Furniture
- Mats or carpets
- Pets (KD has a cat, fish and local visiting sheep and goats)
- Electric wheel-chairs
