b'LIVED EXPERIENCESelf-directed care helpedfor transitions and reduce the stresshelping the family find peace in the a time families experience, she says. If long- face of decline.Eventually, through Mikes neurologist,term care homes could lend theirWhat we did for our dad, you dont the family discovered Ontario Healthspecialized knowledge to communityquestion ityou do whatever it takes atHomes Family-Managed Hometeams earlier on, I think more familiesfor family, Laura says. But it was the Care Program, an innovative modelwould see the value in long-term carepeople within the long-term care that let them hire their own caregivers rather than view it as a last resort. system who helped us make the most using allocated funding. This approachTwo years after Mikes passing in 2023,of the time we had. LTCTextended the time Mike could remainLaura continues to reflect on what at home, offering relief during anher familys journey taught her. SheMatthew Bradford is a freelance incredibly demanding period. But evenwriterwith Long Termself-directed care had its limits. says long-term care was a partner inCare Today. preserving her fathers humanity and There came a point where we realized we just couldnt do it on our own anymore, Laura says.Entering long-term care The OLTCAThe family strategically prepared forThe OLTCAthe move to long-term care by waitingretirement savings planfor placement in the same homeretirement savings planwhere he was cared for through theLow cost. Low admin. Flexible.Low cost. Low admin. Flexible.day program. AsignificantbenefitofOLTCAmembershipisaccessingtheOLTCAretirementsavingsplan,Asignificiannctlubdeinnegfiato b nrdsmhiporise!aIctcseassloinwg-cthoestOpLlaTnCAthraettiisrefmlexeinbltesaavnidngresqpulairne,slowadmin.pfeOnsLiToCn,ARmReSmPaeWhen a bed finally became availableincludingapension,RRSPandmore!Itsalow-costplanthatisflexibleandrequireslowadmin.in 2020, it marked the beginning of a new chapter. And just months after moving inin the midst of COVIDEstablished 88 3,500lockdown restrictionshe donned aEstablished $115m+ 88 3,500suit and watched his daughter marry1989 $115m+ homes members1989 homes membersthe love of her life outside his window.The home saw him as a whole person. They made the effort to get to know him, and our family,Each home can decide the structure of the plan.Laura recalls. When I talked to the1 home can decide the structure of the plan. andchooseEachstaff about having my wedding and1 Each Eachhomecanchoosehowmuchtocontributeonbehalfofemployees optionshomfreomcadnifcfehroeonsteahcocwoumntutcyhpetos:cDoCntPrPib,uRteRoSnP,baenhdalefvoefnema pFloSyAe.esandchooseTincluding them through the window,fromdifferentaccounttypes:DCPP,RRSP,andevenaTFSA.they didnt hesitate and helped toTheprogramthroughManulifeprovidesmembersworld-classinvestmentTheprogwraitmh th M roevsidienstmheeimndbuesrtsryw. orld-classinvestmentoptionsmake it happen. sormouegohftheanlouwlifeesptfewithsomeofthelowestfeesintheindustry.Long-term care madea difference Support.Looking back, Laura says long-term2 TheOLTCAPensionPlanBoardofTrusteeshandlesgovernanceandinvestmentSupport.care played an essential role in2 TheOLTCmAoPnietonrsiinognoPnlabneBhaolafrodf ofTruhsotemees.hAadnmdlienssgtaofvfeartneaancchehaonmdinavensdtmmeenmtbersreceiveeach esustaining her fathers quality of monitorinhgigohn-qbueahliatlyfsoufpepaocrhthfroommeo.ArdmcoinnssutlataffnattseaancdhMhoamnueliafen.dWmeehmavbeedrsedrieccaeteivdecontactsulife, and their familys ability to nveevedrebdeicaaltoendecotonstaoclvtsehigh-quafloitryhsoumppeosrtanfrdomemopulrocyeoenssutoltamnatsnaagnedtMheanpulalinfeYWouelhl a aproblem.support him. forhomesandemployeestomanagetheplan.Youllneverbealonetosolveaproblem.Theres incredible work being doneWanttoknowmore?in long-term care homes, she says.3 toknowmore? toanOLTCAboardmemberorcontact: Group,WantOur family experienced care that 3 Tolearn Tolearnmore,speak b ClientRelation R Consulting Manulife,was personal, compassionate, andJaocrqeu,eslpyneaWkatordaenn,OGLrToCuApm RoeatirrdemmeenmtbCeornosrucltoanntta,cLte:slieJacquelyjnacWqauredlyenn@,GrsoluiepgRroeutipre.cmomenotrCLoinssauHltiacnkte,yL,eCsllieienCt oneslautlitoinngMGarnoaugpe,r,life-affirming. lejacquelynli@sale_hsliciekgeryo@upm.caonmuliofer.Lcais.aHickey, Manager,Manulife,Still, Laura acknowledges the need forlisa_hickey@manulife.ca.system improvement. Many families fall between the cracks, especially those who dont resemble the typical long-term care demographic. Better integration between home care and facility-based services could ease www.oltca.com LONG TERM CARE TODAY 55'