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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Wednesday, June 11, 2014 | 2 Home Care Assistance: specializing in live-in care Changing the way the world ages is the philosophy behind Home Care Assistance. Established just over a decade ago in the U.S., Home Care Assistance is relatively new to Canada but its mission to provide quality care to enable seniors to live happier and healthier lives at home, is spreading. The Oakville office of Home Care Assistance, which serves Hamilton to Mississauga, as well as Georgetown and Milton, employs 62 caregivers and has just over 30 clients. Home Care Assistance's services are distinguished by the caliber of its caregivers and its expertise in live-in care. Caregivers are carefully vetted and trained and undergo testing to determine key personality traits such as conscientiousness and honesty that are linked to identifying the best caregivers. Through HCAMatch.com, the company's proprietary online psychological screening test, Home Care Assistance evaluates these traits and uses this information to ensure expert matching between caregiver and client. "The key is connecting," said owner and CEO Rick Heinz, former St. Louis Blues'and Vancouver Canucks' goaltender who operated his own goalie camps for 27 years before taking over the local business. Heinz was a satisfied client first when he sought out Home Care Assistance for his mother. His positive experience and his wish to give back to the community, prompted the former NHLer to take over the reins, along with his son, Kyle. The company's exclusive caregiver training system and holistic approach to care, the Balanced Care Method, includes studies in nutrition, fitness and mental stimulation. Once completed, caregivers are certified to go into any situation, says Heinz. Live-in care allows a loved one to remain at home with as much independence as possible and the highest level of safety. Caregivers who provide around-the-clock care, help with activities of daily living such as cooking, bathing and dressing, companionship and medication reminders. Home Care Assistance provides specialized care programs for those who suffer from Alzheimer's disease and dementia, a stroke or surgery, or those who are in need of palliative care. Hourly home care allows clients to use caregivers on an hourly or as-needed basis. Heinz finds tremendous satisfaction in his role, which interestingly, he says, has similarities with his job as a goalie coach - teaching caregivers and implementing programs for seniors, instead of young hockey players. "It's a really nice business. Really fulfilling." Home Care Assistance was founded by Kathy and James Johnson, both former university professors with PhDs in Psychology. Kathy Johnson is co-author of the company's award-winning senior wellness book series which includes, Happy to 102, The Handbook on Live-in Care, From Hospital to Home Care, Mind Over Gray Matter, The Five Senses and The Senior Sleep Solution Home Care Assistance is located at 90 Lakeshore Rd. W. in Oakville. Call 905-337-1200 for more information or to arrange a free in-home consultation. Home Care Assistance owner Rick Heinz and his son, Kyle, care manager. Photo by Chantal Ayotte/Metroland Media Group NEEDS HELP Memory loss. Stumbles and falls. A spouse who doesn't sleep at night. Certainly, there are people in your life who are facing challenges like these. An older adult in your life Many older adults in our community are struggling to stay in their own homes, even if they have the means to hire help. At Home Care Assistance, we provide a level of care that enhances the independence of older adults, including those who have Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, or are recovering from a stroke or surgery. Surely, you know an older adult who would benefit from "assisted living -- at home." Encourage that person to learn more about how Oakville's premier home care company can help him or her continue to lead a full life. It often takes a trusted friend like you to plant a seed. 905-337-1200 www.GreaterTorontoHomeCare.ca 90 Lakeshore Rd West Oakville, Ontario, L6K 1E1 Drop in and say hello! We are located at the corner of Kerr and Lakeshore Road West in Kerr Village