Government Creates new Agency:  Personal Support Services Ontario.

In the November release of Aging with Confidence: Ontario’s Action Plan for Seniors, the government announced the creation of a new government agency, Personal Support Services Ontario which will provide some publicly funded home care clients (high need clients requiring more than 14 hrs/week) more choice & control to direct their personal care.  The agency will open next spring It will start by working in three of the province’s 14 LHINs, with the full program in place within three years.

Ultimately, the new agency will be responsible for working with the 14 Local Health Integration Networks in Ontario to directly recruit, screen, and employ PSWs; work with LHINs to receive client referrals and follow the plan of service; manage client intake and matching with PSWs; and facilitating client scheduling of services.  

Implications for Occupational Therapists

At this time there is no expectation that this agency will provide therapy services and engage regulated health professionals. The goal behind the new agency is to more effectively support home care clients with high and consistent needs.  Occupational therapists can play important roles in assessing a client’s restorative potential, advancing their independence in daily occupations, and providing these insights and strategies to the caregiver (both formal and informal).  The Home Independence Program trialled in Ontario is a good example of a PSW/OT collaboration.  Opportunities for collaboration should be explored at the LHIN level.