Annual report shows how service delivery changes can enhance lives

Waterloo Region – The latest Community Services annual report shows changes to how the Regional department delivers services is helping to enhance lives.

“Often when people come to us for services we provide, they do so as a last resort and sometimes the services they try to access are not tailored to their needs,” said Community Services Commissioner Douglas Bartholomew-Saunders. “We are making changes to support all citizens where they are at.”

The report highlights one family who came to Canada with savings to start their own business but was struggling to make ends meet. They wouldn’t typically qualify for social assistance, but the Region made an exception to help get them started. Within four months they were off social assistance and their business was up and running.

The report also highlights unique work happening in Seniors’ Services. Sunnyside Home is changing its culture of care to help residents adapt to living in long term care. More than 100 staff took training to better support and engage residents with dementia. 

“Setting up activities that encourage residents to become more interactive and sociable has led to less behaviours,” said one Personal Support Worker. “This makes it easier to provide care.”

Sunnyside Home is the Region’s long term care home. It received exemplary standing from Accreditation Canada in 2016 for its perfect score in a nationally recognized quality and safety audit.

For more highlights, view the full Community Services annual report.

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For more information, please contact:

Sherry Morley
Communications Coordinator
Community Services, Region of Waterloo
519-883-2377
smorley@regionofwaterloo.ca