Short Term Accessible Accommodation

The In Community manages the only community based respite for adults with physical disabilities in Ottawa. These self-contained furnished apartments are available for rent on a short term basis to residents of and visitors to Ottawa. If required, on-site staff provide physical assistance with activities of daily living under the client's direction.

Availability of Services

The units, located in a non-profit housing co-operative in the east end of Ottawa, may be reserved for a minimum stay of 2 days to a maximum stay of 60 days per calendar year.  All applicants must complete an application form to determine suitability for the program.

All users are responsible for signing a Service Plan Agreement and advance payment of user fees.

Respite Care Unit with support services for adults with physical disabilities

The In Community provides non-medical support to Respite Care Clients. Below is a list of the general types of assistance we provide:

• Personal hygiene:
• Dressing, undressing;
• Washing, bathing, showering, bed bath;
• Mouth care;
• Hair care;
• Preventive skin care, including changing of non-sterile dressings;
• Grooming;
• Make-up;
• Shaving;
• Assistance with medication;
• Menstrual care;
• Toileting and bladder care, including emptying and changing of leg and night bags, stoma care, maintenance of external catheter care, and application and maintenance of external condom;
• Bowel care including, insertion of suppository, digital stimulation and manual disempaction, stoma care.

Physical care:

• Household and personal laundry;
• Light housekeeping;
• Meal preparation, serving, cutting and feeding of food;
• Transferring, positioning, and turning;
• Cleaning and maintenance care of specialized equipment, including wheelchairs, commode chairs;
• Range of motion exercises, and assistance with assistive cough devices and assistive cough therapy;
• Assistance with Registered Service Animals.

Clients live independently in an unsupervised environment

Applicants must:

• be an adult with a physical disability;
• have the ability to direct their care, make decisions and live alone in an unsupervised setting
• have the communication skills or physical mobility sufficient to extricate him/herself in an emergency

Clients access and direct non-medical staff to meet their physical care needs

Staff are available on-site 24 hours a day to meet all physical needs of clients on either a pre-booked or as needed basis.

Amenities and Furnishing Provided

• Wheelchair accessible units with automatic door opening device, ceiling track lift, roll-in shower, and commode chair available;
• Fully furnished, bachelor style units;
• Adjustable double hospital bed, and pull-out couch;
• Includes basic cable and VCR;
• A full compliment of linens and towels.
• Fully equipped kitchen;
• Stove, oven, microwave, refrigerator, toaster, electric kettle, coffeemaker, all cookware, dishes and utensils.
• Air conditioning available during the summer;
• Access to laundry facilities.

View pictures of the units.

Applications are accepted on an on-going basis

To apply for The In Community 's Respite Care Unit applicants must complete and submit one the following applications:

If you require physical assistance from staff for personal care during your stay, complete and return the “Application Form for Respite Unit With Support Care”

or

If you do not require any assistance from staff during your stay, complete and return the “Application Form for Respite Unit Without Support Care”