Bayshore Home Health launches Bridging the Gap One-on-One on first National
Seniors Day

- New initiative encourages discussion between elected officials and local seniors -

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Sept. 20 /CNW/ - Bayshore Home Health, Canada's largest provider of home and community health care services, is inviting elected officials to meet with local seniors for a cordial, thought-sharing series of lunches across its network of 50-plus branches. The initiative, called Bridging the Gap One-on-One coincides with the first National Seniors Day on Oct. 1^st.

"This event is designed to encourage discussion about public policy and real people's lives," says Mike Krunic, director of marketing for Bayshore Home Health. "The meetings will provide the politicians with a glimpse into what a senior's life is like and how home care services in the community can help them live independently in their own home."

Last June 17 the House of Commons passed a bill to introduce the first annual National Seniors Day. It will be celebrated every year on Oct. 1^st, coinciding with the International Day of Older Persons. The new day is a way to celebrate the contributions Canada's seniors make to their families, communities, workplaces and society.

"Many people don't understand the kind of services that home health care provides or that they have options beyond institutional care," adds Krunic. "It's the goal of Bridging the Gap One-on-One to make elected officials more aware of home health care and its ability to fill a variety of short- to long-term personal care needs and offer an alternative to institutional care."

Bayshore Home Health offers a variety of home care services including:

• Free in-home assessments and care supervision by a registered nurse.
• In-home nursing care including administering medication, wound and skin care, advanced foot care, pain and symptom management.
• Personal care and hygiene such as grooming, washing and bathing, basic hand and foot care, dressing, assistance with eating, accompaniment to appointments and other activities.
• Home support such as light housekeeping, meal preparation and laundry.
• Companion services through personal visits to the home to share a cup of tea or go for a walk.
• Caregivers specially trained to assist clients with serious injuries, acquired brain injury, palliative care and dementia.
• myNurse health management program that lets people arrange monthly or quarterly home visits with a registered nurse who provides regular health assessments, monitoring and education

About Bayshore Home Health

Bayshore Home Health has been enhancing the quality of life, dignity and independence of Canadians in their homes since 1966. Canadian owned and operated, it is the country's largest provider of home and community health care services, with more than 50 home care offices, 20 community care clinics and 8,000 employees. Its core services are in-home nursing, personal care and home support - which can be purchased directly by individuals and also accessed through government care programs, personal and group insurance plans and workplace safety insurance. The company also provides nurse/caregiver staffing services, health education programs and treatments in its community dialysis centres. Through its subsidiary, Bayshore Specialty Rx, it offers infusion pharmacy, infusion clinic and pharmaceutical support services to a variety of health care and pharmaceutical organizations.

For further information:

Mary Mamak
Communications Coordinator
Bayshore Home Health
Phone: [phone]
Email: [email protected]
www.bayshore.ca