Knowledge and Understanding is Everything

by Caroline Inman

In our last article we discussed important factors to consider when choosing your Seniors’ Housing Advisor. This included understanding how they worked, whether they offered a free or paid for service, whether they were on commission/how they were compensated and what their remit was.

Equally as important and what we’d like to delve deeper into here, is truly understanding their knowledge and experience. As I’m sure you can appreciate, there are many people in positions across varying industries who do a job, but who maybe don’t go above and beyond in learning more about other facets of the role, or who take a two-dimensional and not an holistic approach to the service they provide. 

Within Seniors’ Housing, there is so much more to articulate than what homes there are and where they’re located. If you’re looking for a Seniors’ Housing Advisor, consider asking them how they can guide you on the below. If they can answer with authority and share examples, references, resources and understanding, then they’re showing that they’re ‘walking the walk’ and are likely to provide that holistic, umbrella support for you as you navigate the process.

A licensed home vs a seniors building – Do they know the difference between the two and can they articulate what the requirements are to be a licensed property? Do they know which homes fall into which categories and which homes straddle the two?

Care levels, supports and differences – do they have a thorough understanding of health conditions, degenerative diseases, how certain dementias are different from others and how other ailments progress? What this could look like over time and how that can change? With that in mind, can they guide you to those homes that can meet care needs, not only now, but in the future? Do they understand the differences between a secure floor and a true memory care environment? Are they asking you to think about aging in place, future moves or just finding options that are ‘ok’ now?

The Retirement Homes Act (2010) – do they understand the Act and the law that is in place in Ontario? Can they share what Resident’s Rights are and how that is enforced?

The Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority – do they know who the RHRA is, what its role is, how it operates, regulates, inspects and upholds?

The Residential Tenancies Act – can they share with you what your lease will look like? The differences between a short term stay and a permanent lease? The rules around notice, rules around tenancy and the relationship with the landlord; what a landlord is allowed to do in a licensed home as those rules are different from a landlord for an apartment building. Can they tell you about rental increase and what other increases you could expect, and how that has to be presented to you?

Public Health: do they understand the role of public health in a care facility environment and again, what its remit is, when staff from Public Health have to be involved, what reporting looks like and what requirements – if any – are needed from you by Public Health ahead of your move-in?

At Solva, we can confidently speak to all of the above. We consistently go beyond a referral service and make sure to educate, inform and thoroughly support our clients. 

For a full understanding of our services, reach out to us at any time. Always FREE and without obligation.

613-421-6073    info@solvaseniorliving.ca