​Goodbye 2018...this years update is quite late compared to the normal New Years Day post. 
It has been quite a year of highs and lows, the highs of course are our caregivers, who continue to amaze us with their care and compassion. 
We as business owners are so lucky to have the group that we have, but even more so are the clients they visit, I know they brighten their day with every visit. 
I also know how lucky we are the have the clients and the families that we have. Being able to help their parents, aunts, uncles friends etc and have such great working relationships is really something extraordinary in our line of work and something we are continually grateful for.
2018 ended on quite a hard and sad note for a lot of us. Losing 2 clients within 10 days of each other (whom we saw together, every day, for the last 2 years) really rocked those of us who knew them. 
It’s these times that can get you really down, but it also goes to show the compassion that our caregivers put into their work. It’s not just a job for them, for some it seems a calling.
After suffering such losses we found it important to try to gather as a group. While someone always seems to be working, it is very hard to get us all in one place at the same time. 
We were able to get just over half of us together for our very first (and I am sure will be annual) Christmas party. 
For Kelly, Carley and myself this was one of our highlights for the year. Being able to bring this group together is really something special and I hope we are able to do more of it in 2019.
From Kelly, Nicole, Carley and all of us at Home Sweet Home Care for Seniors we would like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year and all the best 2019 can bring you and family.

​Remembrance Day Services in the Hamilton area
West Hamilton Remembrance Day Service
Sunday, November 5, 2017
10:30 am to 12:30 pm
West Hamilton Cenotaph at St. George's Reformed Episcopal Church, 134 Emerson Street, Hamilton
Glanbrook Remembrance Day Service
Sunday, November 5, 2017
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Glanbrook Cenotaph at the Glanbrook Arena, 4300 Binbrook Road, Binbrook
Ancaster Remembrance Day Service
Saturday, November 11, 2017
10:30 am to 12:30 pm
Ancaster Old Town Hall, 310 Wilson Street East, Ancaster
Dundas Remembrance Day Parade and Service
Saturday, November 11, 2017
10:30 am to 12:30 pm
Dundas Cenotaph at the Dundas Lions Memorial Community Centre, 10 Market Street South, Hamilton
Lynden Remembrance Day Service
Saturday, November 11, 2017
10:30 am to 12:30 pm
Royal Canadian Legion - Beverly Branch 500, 206 Lynden Road, Lynden
Mount Hope Remembrance Day Service
Saturday, November 11, 2017
10:30 am to 12:30 pm
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, 9280 Airport Road, Mount Hope
Royal Canadian Legion Branch 163 Remembrance Day Service
Saturday, November 11, 2017
10:30 am to 12:30 pm
Royal Canadian Legion - Branch 163, 435 Limeridge Road East, Hamilton
Stoney Creek Remembrance Day Parade and Service
Saturday, November 11, 2017
10:30 am to 12:30 pm
Stoney Creek Cenotaph, King Street & Highway 8, Hamilton
Hamilton Remembrance Day Service and Parade
Saturday, November 11, 2017
10:45 am to 12:45 pm
Veterans’ Place at Gore Park, 64 King Street East, Hamilton
Waterdown Remembrance Day Service
Saturday, November 11, 2017
10:45 am to 12:45 pm
Royal Canadian Legion - Waterdown Branch 55, 79 Hamilton Street North, Waterdown

I hate having to post these, but we need to be on the look out for the predators.

https://www.thespec.com/opinion-story/7519718-predators-targeting-canada-s-seniors-with-fraud-scams/

Remembrance Day Services in and around Hamilton
HSR will offer free rides to veterans in uniform on November 6, 11 and 13, 2016 for bus travel to and from Remembrance Day services
Friday November 11 2016
Hamilton Remembrance Day Service
Time: 10:45 am
Veterans’ Place at Gore Park, 64 King Street East
Contact: City of Hamilton Events Office 905-546-4646 or eventsoffice@hamilton.ca
Join us for a Remembrance Day service at the cenotaph in Veterans’ Place at Gore Park. All are welcome to honour Hamilton’s veterans and service men and women at the downtown Hamilton Remembrance Day parade.
Ancaster Remembrance Day Service
Time: 10:30 am
Ancaster Old Town Hall, 310 Wilson Street East
Contact: City of Hamilton Events Office 905-546-4646 or eventsoffice@hamilton.ca
Dundas Remembrance Day Parade and Service
Time: 10:30 am
Dundas Cenotaph, Dundas Community Centre, 10 Market Street
Contact: Royal Canadian Legion Dundas Valley Branch 36, 905-627-7221
Lynden Remembrance Day Service
Time: 10:30 am
Royal Canadian Legion Beverly Branch 500, Lynden Legion Park, 206 Lynden Road
Contact: Royal Canadian Legion Beverly Branch 500, 519-647-3403
Mount Hope Remembrance Day Service
Time: 10:30 am
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, 9280 Airport Road
Contact: Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, 905-679-4183
Royal Canadian Legion Branch 163 Remembrance Day Service
Time: 10:30 am
Royal Canadian Legion Branch 163, 435 Limeridge Road East
Contact: Royal Canadian Legion Branch 163, 905-385-3733
Stoney Creek Remembrance Day Parade and Service
Time: 10:30 am
Stoney Creek Cenotaph, King Street and Highway 8
Contact: Royal Canadian Legion Stoney Creek Branch 622, 905-662-4171
Waterdown Remembrance Day Service
Time: 10:45 am
Royal Canadian Legion Waterdown Branch 551, 79 Hamilton Street North
Contact: Royal Canadian Legion Waterdown Branch 55, 905-689-6112
Sunday November 13 2016
Hamilton Remembrance Day Garrison Parade & Service
Time: 10:15 am parade, 10:45 am service
Parade begins at John Weir Foote V.C. Armoury, 200 James Street North.
Service takes place at Veterans’ Place at Gore Park, 64 King Street East
Contact: City of Hamilton Events Office 905-546-4646 or eventsoffice@hamilton.ca
All are welcome to honour Hamilton’s veterans and service men and women at the downtown Hamilton Remembrance Day Garrison parade and service. The parade will start on James Street North in front of the John Weir Foote V.C. Armoury, travel south on James Street and then east on King Street to Gore Park where the remembrance service will be observed. The parade will return to the Armoury following the service along the same route.

Our plaque has been delivered! Thank you to everyone who voted for us and to our girls for their great care!

Wow! Platinum for the Readers Choice Awards in Home Health Care.
We are beyond ecstatic and in awe. 
Thank you all for following us on this journey we started 5 years ago.
Thank you to our amazing girls, your care and compassion to our clients are the reason for this award!
Thanks and love to all!

http://readerschoice.hamiltonnews.com/2015/12/best-business-service/home-healthcare

News ReleaseOntario Lowers Drug Costs for Over 170,000 More Low-Income SeniorsProvince Commits to Consult on Ontario Drug Benefit Improvements
April 4, 2016 9:45 A.M.Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
Ontario is making changes to the Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) Program that will allow more than 170,000 seniors to become newly eligible for the low-income seniors program. As a result, they will save approximately $130 on average per year in out-of-pocket drug costs and almost half-a-million Ontario seniors will pay no deductible and only a co-payment of up to $2 per prescription.   
Starting August 1, 2016, the government proposes to increase the income thresholds to qualify for the low-income seniors benefit:


●     from less than $16,018 to less than or equal to $19,300 for single seniors, and
●     from less than $24,175 to less than or equal to $32,300 for senior couples.
These new thresholds are aligned with the Ontario Guaranteed Annual Income System and will be indexed to ensure they remain aligned in future benefit years. With these changes, Ontario seniors will continue to enjoy the lowest on average out-of-pocket drug costs of any seniors across the provinces in Canada.
In addition to changes to benefit low-income seniors, the 2016 Budget also included proposed changes to drug cost contributions by non-low income seniors. Over the past month, the Province has consulted with Ontarians on these proposed changes and received feedback from seniors and representative organizations. Based on this feedback, the government is pausing the planned increases to drug cost contributions ‎from seniors who are not low-income. Beginning this year the government will continue to consult on the correct income thresholds for an improved Ontario Drug Benefit, with a view to creating a fair, sustainable system that remains among the most generous in Canada.‎
Making drugs more affordable for low-income seniors is part of the government's plan to build a better Ontario through its Patients First: Action Plan for Health Care, which provides patients with faster access to the right care; better home and community care; the information they need to live healthy; and a health care system that is sustainable for generations to come.
Quick Facts

• Since 1996, there have been no updates to the income thresholds for the ODB low-income seniors program and the co-payment and deductible for non-low income seniors, even though the cost to the government per senior has increased by nearly 130 per cent.
• With the proposed changes, in addition to the over 170,000 seniors who will be newly eligible for the low-income program as of August 1, 2016, approximately 30,000 additional new seniors would become eligible for the low-income seniors program each year.
• Seniors whose income continues to stay under the adjusted income threshold each year would continue to qualify for the $0 deductible and $2 co-payment.
• At present, there are over 4,300 drugs on the ODB Formulary. More than 1,000 drugs have been added since 2009 and 13 new drugs have been added since the 2016 Budget.
• Ontario will also publicly fund the shingles vaccine for seniors aged 65 to 70.

Thank you to all the brave, past and present, who continue to keep us safe and free

Remembrance Day events in and around Hamilton:
Sunday, Nov. 9
Downtown Hamilton parade: A parade of veterans, garrison units, government representatives and cadet corps will leave the Armouries on James Street North at 10:15 a.m. The parade route will take the procession north on James, east on Barton, north on Hughson and west on Murray to Liuna Station.
The parade will end at Liuna Station at 360 James Street North, where a service will take place at 10:45 a.m. There's free parking at Liuna Station, accessible from John Street. James Street will be closed from Cannon to Barton for the parade.
The parade will return along the same route after the ceremony.
Other Sunday events:
Glanbrook: Service at 2 p.m. at the cenotaph at Glanbrook Arena, 4300 Binbrook Road
West Hamilton: Service at 10:30 a.m. at St. George Cenotaph at St. George's Reformed Episcopal Church, 134 Emerson Street
"Salute Rally": An organization called Friends of Veterans Canada is organizing a rally along the Highway of Heroes from Trenton to Hamilton. Organizers expect Canada flag-bedecked classic cars, family vehicles and even a few hardy motorcyclists to assemble in a procession arriving in Hamilton around 3:30 or 4 p.m. at the Legion Branch 163. Attendees are asked to make a $25 donation and bring a small stocking stuffer for children of military members.
Tuesday, Nov. 11
Downtown Hamilton: Hamilton Remembrance Day Service takes place at City Hall, 71 Main Street West, at 10:45 a.m.
Other Tuesday events:
Ancaster: 10:30 a.m. service at Old Town Hall, 310 Wilson Street East
Dundas: 10:30 a.m. parade and service at Dundas Cenotaph at Dundas Community Centre, 10 Market Street
Stoney Creek: 10:45 a.m. parade and service at the Stoney Creek Cenotaph, King Street and Highway 8
Waterdown: 10:45 a.m. service at the Royal Canadian Legion Waterdown Branch 551, 79 Hamilton Street North
Mount Hope: 10:30 a.m. service at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, 9280 Airport Road
Mountain: 10:30 a.m. service at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 163, 435 Limeridge Road East
Lynden: 10:30 a.m. service at the Royal Canadian Legion – Beverly Branch 500, Lynden Legion Park, 206 Lynden Road
Road closures
Here's a full list of road closures the city has announced for moments of silence and services around Hamilton.
James Street from Cannon to Barton, closed Sunday from 9 to 11:30 a.m.
Main Street at Bay Street, closed Tuesday from 10:55 to 11:10 a.m. for a moment of silence
Wilson Street, S. Springs to Halson, closed Tuesday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. for Ancaster Remembrance Day
King Street, from Sydenham to Peel, closed Tuesday from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. for Dundas Remembrance Day
King Street, from Highway 8 to Green, closed from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. for Stoney Creek Remembrance Day
Hamilton Street from Cedar to John, closed Tuesday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. for Waterdown Remembrance Day

Hamilton police warn about chimney repair scam
Hamilton Spectator
Hamilton police are warning about a group of men pressuring seniors to make unnecessary repairs to their chimneys after two incidents last week in which people were approached and pressured to make the repairs.

In both cases, one man approached the victims outside in their yards while the other suspects went onto the roof and chipped away mortar on the chimney, leading the senior to believe they needed the repairs, according to police.

One man, the oldest of the group, negotiated a price and in one case, the victim was driven to the bank to get money for payment. Once payment was made, the men led the victims to believe the work was done and they left.

All of the men are described as white and were driving an older model white pickup truck with the words "AAA Asphalt" or "AAA Asphalt Solutions" written on the side.

One suspect is described as 50 to 60 years old, rough-looking with a scruffy beard and poor teeth, and having a heavy build with a large belly, weighing about 250 pounds. He wore work clothes.

A second suspect is described as being in his early 30s and having an average build.

The other men are between 20 and 40 years old.

Police remind people that when approached in this manner, to ask to see credentials and to not get the work done without getting at least three quotes first and a contract. Avoid cash deals. Avoid high pressure sales pitches, and call police if they refuse to leave your property. More information at www.hamiltonpolice.on.ca