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LHIN partner helping seniors remain at home Continued from page 3 11 · Thursday, February 28, 2013 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com has had three expansions, there has been an expansion at the Mississauga site of Trillium Health Centre, a new Oakville hospital is under construction and Milton received approval for a large project in its hospital. "We felt, at least for the next three years, we were pretty much on track in terms of what we were looking for in expansion of hospital capacity. What we really wanted to focus on now is the ability to care for people in their communities," MacLeod said. Caring for people in their communities is something the Oakville Senior Citizens' Residence (OSCR) understands quite well. The organization is one of the local LHINfunded agencies. The organization provides housing to seniors, but more than that, it provides care to those in the community who are still living at home. The LHIN's priority of enhancing community capacity is familiar to members of the OSCR. "They would like us to expand our catchment area, so we can increase the benefits to the individuals in the community around us," said OSCR CEO Angela Katunas. "We know there are many seniors who live in Bronte, who live in their homes, who want to stay in their homes and our goal is to help them be able to do that." Katunas said working towards enhancing community capacity doesn't necessarily "We know there are many seniors who live in Bronte, who live in their homes, who want to stay in their homes and our goal is to help them be able to do that." Angela Katunas, CEO Oakville Senior Citizens' Residence mean more funding for the OSCR. It could mean the agency may look for partners in the community to work alongside to enhance its services. Among its services, the OSCR provides access to such things as nursing, pharmacy and non-health related services that help improve the quality of life for individuals. Katunas said the OSCR works closely with the LHIN and the two organizations have many of the same priorities. "We take their integrated health service plan and our agency, and I'm sure other agencies do it, we actually use their strategic plan to develop our strategic plan," she said. "We align them really because the values and the goals, they're all the same... We work together with the LHIN." The OSCR still has its own strategic plan in place and will develop a new plan based on the LHIN's document later this year. Katunas called the LHIN a resource to her agency. The LHIN is a funder, but it is also a partner. Furthermore, the LHIN is an organization that assures quality care by doing check ups and requiring reports. "The LHINs are very proactive, very engaged, they work with us. They're constantly looking at ways to improve our programs, they're always looking at community engagement, engagement with the actual providers," she said. The LHIN has funded training for the OSCR's staff to be able to help clients with mental health issues. It has also required all agencies to become accredited by September of this year. The OSCR recently received its accreditation through CARF International (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities). Mental health has been, and will continue to be, a major priority for the LHIN, MacLeod said. The local LHIN will continue working towards improving community mental health services. For more information on the integrated health service plan or the LHIN, visit www. mhlhin.on.ca. Keep warm this winter at our NEW indoor market! Burlington: Saturday' s 10am - 3pm Milton: Sunday' s 10am - 3pm Join TERRA @ Home and local farmers at the TERRA @ Home Market! Shop for local farm fresh items, delicious baked goods and artisan crafts. Winter Market www.terragreenhouses.com Burlington Location Hwy #5 East of Brant St. (905) 332-3222 Milton Location 12800 Britannia Rd. (905) 876-4000