CLIENT HANDOUTS
CommuniCare Therapy has developed handouts for clients on a variety of health and safety isues. Please take a moment to review our client handout. These handouts are also available by mail on request.
INFECTION CONTROL RESOURCES
CommuniCare Therapy shares information with our clincians, staff and the public concerning infection prevention and control practices and resources.
HAND HYGIENE
What is hand hygiene?
Hand hygiene refers to cleaning your hands, either using soap and water or a waterless hand sanitizer.
Why is hand hygiene important?
Illness causing organisms can survive for days on contaminated surfaces or items. Hands are easily contaminated through touching these surfaces or items and the illness causing organisms are introduced into the body through touching the eyes, nose or mouth or through eating.
When do I need to perform hand hygiene?
Hand hygiene should be performed in the following instances:
- after personal care (i.e. blowing your nose, using the washroom)
- after assisting another with personal care
- before preparing or eating food
- after touching potentially contaminated surfaces (i.e. any surface, linen or items used by someone who is ill, or any surface/item touched by many people, such as a grocery cart, etc)
Health care workers have other instances (in addition to the above) where they should perform hand hygiene:
- before and after any client contact
- before and after putting on/removing gloves
- after any contact with potentially contaminated materials or surfaces
How to use Hand Sanitizer
How to Hand Wash with Soap and Water
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
View Public Health Ontario’s guide on proper sequencing for personal protective equipment (PPE) application and removal.
INFLUENZE VACCINATION (FLU SHOT) CLINICS
CommuniCare Therapy encourages all of their clients, clinicians and staff to receive the annual flu vaccine.
The Ontario Ministry of Health & Long Term Care has a new website that allows searching by postal code to find the closest flu shot clinic or pharmacy.
WEB LINKS
The following external links have been compiled to help you access other health-related Web sites on the following topics:
Client Safety
- Canadian Patient Safety Institute
A resource for patients/clients, caregivers and health professionals. - Canada Safety Council
Emergency Preparedness
- Emergency Preparedness Guide for People with Disabilities/Special Needs
- Public Safety Canada A federal branch that works to reduce the impact of emergencies on Canadians through coordination of services and issuing communications in time of emergency.
- Public Health Agency of Canada Emergency Preparedness and Response A federal agency that supports local, municipal, provincial and federal governments in time of emergency.
- City of Ottawa Emergency Management Offers tips for residents and organizations to aid in preparing for an emergency.
Emergency Tip: Enter and save the acronym “ I C E ” (In Case of Emergency), in your mobile phone book along with your emergency contact person´s telephone number. This will help emergency personnel notify your contact person quickly and easily. Most individuals carry a cell phone and in a crisis situation emergency responders can get in touch with them with ease.
Equipment
- Flaghouse
A source for equipment, sensory stimulation and activities for senior citizens. - Parsons ADL
Manufactures and distributes accessories for daily living. - Rifton
Manufactures gait trainers, standers, adaptive tricycles, special chairs, bathing and toileting aids, and other adaptive rehab equipment. - Sammons Preston Rolyan
- South Paw Enterprises, Inc.
Southpaw Enterprises – Sensory processing disorder (SPD) resources, equipment, products and toys. Discussion forums to help address sensory integration.
Healthcare Agencies
- Abilitations
Abilitations is a company whose primary focus is serving the needs of individuals with special needs. - ADP Program (Public Information)
- ADP Program (Authorizer Information)
- Canadian Institute for Health Information
The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) is an independent, pan-Canadian, not-for-profit organization working to improve the health of Canadians and the health care system by providing quality, reliable and timely health information. - Eastern Ontario health Unit
- Health Integration networks
- Leeds, Grenville and Lanark Health Unit
- Ontario Association of Community Care Access Centres
Helps Ontario residents of all ages to receive health care and personal support services to live in the community. - Ontario Community Support Association
Supports 360 home & community care agencies in Ontario that help people live at home. - Ontario Home Care Association
Dedicated to service excellence and client satisfaction in the provision of home health and support services in Ontario. - Ontario Hospital Association
Organization of health care providers dedicated to the continuing improvement of health services in Ontario. - Ontario March of Dimes
Ontario March of Dimes offers conductive education classes for stroke survivors and adults with multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease, ataxia, dystonia, etc. - Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
- Champlain Community Care Access Centre
- Ottawa Public Health Unit
- Peel Information Network
Information about social, health, community and government services for the people in Peel Region. - Toronto 211
Information about community, social, health and government services in Toronto. - York Link
Directory of community service providers and related government agencies in York Region.
Healthcare Organizations
- Accreditation Canada
An independent, accredited organization that provides healthcare organizations with an external peer review process to facilitate the assessment and improvement of the quality of health services. - Canadian Health Care Technology
An informative site about technological news in the health industry. - Canadian Institute for Health Information
- Canadian Public Health Agency
- Health Canada Online
Keeping Canadians informed with the latest available health information. - Ministry Of Health and Long Term Care of Ontario
- Ontario Health Information Exchange
Home Care Resources
- Canadian Home Care Association
Not-for-profit membership organization representing over 600 Canadian home care stakeholders. - Community Care Access Centres
- Ontario Home Care Association
Dedicated to service excellence and client satisfaction in the provision of home health and support services in Ontario.
Illness & Disease
- ALS Society of Ontario
The ALS Society of Ontario services the province of Ontario and has joined with the ALS Society of Toronto. - Alzheimer Society of Ontario
- Arthritis Society of Canada
- Autism Society Canada – Société canadienne de l’autisme
- Canadian Paraplegic Association Ontario
- The”>www.theincommunity.ca/english/home-e.html”>The In- Community ( formerly Disabled Persons Community Resources )
- Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
The Heart and Stroke Foundation provides information about heart, stroke and healthy living in Canada. - Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada
- Muscular Dystrophy Canada
- Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy
- Stroke Strategy of SouthEastern Ontario
The Independent Senior
- 50Plus.com
Official site of Canada’s Assoc. for the Fifty-Plus (formerly CARP – Canadian Association of Retired Persons). - Home Adaptations for Seniors’ Independence | CMHC
- The Transition Guide for Caregivers (PDF)
The Transition Guide for Caregivers, “Aging with a Developmental Disability,” contains a distillation of information about supporting a person with developmental disabilities as they age. It also includes checklists for planning. The Guide was developed by the Ontario Partnership on Aging and Developmental Disabilities (OPADD) to support continuing quality of life and best practices.
Infection Control
- Community and Hospital Infection Control Association (CHICA)
National association dedicated to facilitating infection control, education and standardization of practices. - Important Health Notices from the Ontario MOHTLC
- Just Clean Your Hands
- Regional Infection Control Network
- Educational and entertaining infection prevention and control videos
Mental Health
- Canadian College of Health Service Executives
National association contributing to the advancement of health services management in Canada. - Canadian Mental Health Association
Promotes the mental health of all individuals and communities in Ontario. - Mental Health Works
Mental health problems have personal, social and financial consequences for everyone in Canada. Yet there are few resources for employers and employees on how to deal with mental illness in the workplace and there is very little guidance available to help create workplaces that sustain or help to restore mental health. Mental Health Works is filling this gap by developing resources and providing organizations with the tools and information they need to actively address and foster workplace mental health. - Ontario Federation of Community Mental Health & Addiction Programs
Provides information sharing among Ontario’s community mental health and addiction service providers.
Pediatrics
- ACT Learning Centre
- American Physical Therapy Association Pediatric Section
- Canadian Pediatric Society
Resources for both clinicians and parents covering a wide variety of child-related primary care topics. - The Easter Seal Society, Ontario
Dedicated to helping children, youth and young adults with physical disabilities achieve their full individual potential and future independence. - First Words Preschool Speech and Language Program of Ottawa
- McMaster’s research site
- Official Journal of the Section of Pediatrics of the American Physical Therapy Association
- Physio Forum
- Autism Ontario Calypso Guide to finding a camp for your child
- Autism Ontario Spirale helps parents find professional services for children and youth with ASD
Resources for Healthcare Professionals
- American College of Health Service Executives
International professional society of 30,000 health care professionals. - Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Strives for excellence in creating new knowledge and translating it into improved health for Canadians. - College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario
Regulates the practice and monitors the competency of all occupational therapists in Ontario, Canada. - CAOT – Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists
Canadian national organisation of Occupational Therapists, with information for consumers, news, training and professional practice resources. - Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists – Home
Voluntary provincial professional association of Ontario’s occupational therapists with listing of training events. - College of Physiotherapists of Ontario
Regulates the practice and monitors the competency of all physiotherapists in Ontario, Canada. - Canadian Physiotherapy Association
Canadian national organisation of Physiotherapists, with information for consumers, news, training and professional practice resources. - Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers
Regulates the practice and monitors the competency of all social workers and social service workers in Ontario, Canada. - Ontario Association of Social Workers
Provincial social work association, with information for consumers, news, training and professional practice resources. - College of Dietitians of Ontario
Regulates the practice and monitors the competency of dietitians in Ontario, Canada. - Dietitians of Canada
Canadian national organization, with information for consumers, news, training and professional practice resources. - College of Audiologists and Speech Language Pathologists of Ontario
Regulates the practice and monitors the competency of audiologists and speech language pathologists in Ontario, Canada. - Canadian Association of Speech Language Pathologists and Audiologists
Canadian national association of audiologists and speech language pathologists , with information for consumers, news, training and professional practice resources. - Ontario Association of Speech Language Pathologists and Audiologists
Provincial association of audiologists and speech language pathologists.
Social Work Resources
- Canadian Homelessness
Various weblinks to sites pertaining to homelessness in Canada.
Substance Abuse
- Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse
The CCSA provides a national focus for efforts to reduce health, social and economic harm associated with substance abuse and addictions. - Ontario Federation of Community Mental Health & Addiction Programs
Provides information sharing among Ontario’s community mental health and addiction service providers.
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