Support
We support your loved one just as we would our own.
When your loved one is in the hospital going through a health challenge, we understand that the emotional stakes are high, and figuring out all of the support services you might need to arrange, sometimes in short order, can be overwhelming. We are here to help not only for patient transfer, but we might be able to point you in the right direction for other support services and funding.
Help with funding
It's important to find the appropriate service for you. We can help.
- We will discuss your personal circumstances and support needs with you.
- We’ll make recommendations based on our knowledge of the various programs available to our community members.
- We will support you through the application process with as much or as little involvement as you need.
Frequently asked questions
Below are some frequently asked questions about support for your loved one or patient.
Can you make sure paperwork goes with my loved one to the long term care home from the hospital?
We always ask the nurses station at the sending facility if there is paperwork that needs to accompany the individual we are transporting. While we can not look at the paperwork itself, we can make sure the brown envelope gets to the care team at the destination. We also scan the hospital room for personal belongings to make sure nothing is left behind.
It is my mom who actually has the appointment, but can I go with her and is there an extra charge if I do?
Yes of course you can come, and there is no extra charge if the pickup and drop off destination is the same.
Do I need to attend the medical appointment with my mom?
No you do not. We can stay with her for the duration of the appointment while providing supportive companionship and sharing good moments and stories along the way. We understand that many people are part of the “sandwich generation” meaning some folks are caring for their parents, their own children, and at the peak of their career. We get that it is busy, and we are happy to step in as a trusted companion of your family.
I don't live with my loved one, but want to know they are home safe and sound. Can you update me when done?
Of course. We want to know our own families are home safe and sound and so we want you to know the same! We can absolutely call or text once complete and provide an update on how the transfer went.
My loved one's mobility and care needs have recently changed. What do I do?
If they are still in the hospital, the first stop is asking the nurses if there is a social worker you can talk to, and also talk to discharge planners. There are also a lot of good resources in the Positive Aging Directory put out by the Government of Nova Scotia – https://novascotia.ca/seniors/directory/positive-aging-directory.pdf.
You can. also call Continuing Care at 1-800-225-7225 or call 211 and speak to one of their staff who are very helpful.
My loved one is in a wheelchair and we have stairs. Can you still take them?
Absolutely we can still help! We have the skills, experience, equipment, and strength to lift wheelchair users up and down stairs. We will ask specific information upon booking/quoting to understand the scope of work. Some of these questions will be body weight of person we are lifting, number of stairs, width of stair well, and nature of staircase (winding or straight).
My loved one is in emerge and discharged, but they do not have their wheelchair. Can you still help?
Yes we can! We have a number of wheelchairs for varying body types and levels of mobility. We can help people transfer from their hospital bed to our equipment, and then help them transfer to their wheelchair, couch or bed at home.
My mom wants to socialize and seems a little lonely and isolated. Can you recommend any activities?
We all get lonely sometimes, but older people who live alone and have reduced mobility can really feel it, and we want to help. While all of our transfers have a social component to them, we would also like to recommend some activities and organizations below:
- Seniors Centres provide fun meals together and lots of social activities such as bowling, bingo, crafts, book clubs, history seminars, and a lot more. Here are some centres
– Spencer House Seniors Centre (Halifax) – https://www.spencerhouse.ca/ – 902-421-6131
– Dartmouth Seniors Service Centre – https://www.dartmouthseniors.ca/ – 902-465-5578
– Sackville Seniors Advisory Centre – http://www.sackvilleseniors.com/ – 902-864-5591
– Seniors’ College Association of Nova Scotia – https://www.thescans.org/ – 902-444-7588
– Bay Seniors (Upper Tantallon) – https://bayseniors.ca/ – 902-820-3334
– Flourish Centre (Bridgewater) – https://flourishcentre.ca/ – 902-543-2226
My older loved one has a low income and needs help maintaining their independence at home. What do I do?
They might qualify for the Seniors Care Grant, which helps people with some household independence activities such as grocery delivery, transportation, age friendly home repairs and even some healthcare services such as physiotherapy and mental health support. You can call the Seniors Care Grant at 902-424-4381 or 1-877-848-2578, or view more information about the grant here – https://beta.novascotia.ca/apply-help-household-healthcare-and-home-heating-costs-seniors-care-grant
My wheelchair is extra large. Can you still take me?
Yes we can. We have specialized vehicles and training for bariatric transportation that can accommodate some of the biggest wheelchairs available.
Ask a question
If you have an unanswered question please ask us and we will find the correct answer for you.