Access to the Home

Access to the Home

Access to the home can be a simple matter when handled correctly or it can lead to endless headaches! Providing access to your home is no small concern. The care provider should review the following before starting service.

• Homes which are simple to find in the daytime can become a challenge at night.
• Is address number signage visible from the road?
• Is there adequate lighting on the road and leading up to the home entry?
• Are there slip, trip and fall hazards on the way into the home?
• CommunityPlus documents directions to the home in detail including address number locations and local descriptors.

• Parking is sometimes obvious and other times unavailable or difficult to find. 
• Home parking locations may find it useful to mark parking with reflective stickers or signage
• Visitor parking marked and available?
• Numbered parking stall available?
• Is paid parking required?
• CommunityPlus has specific parking direction fields visible on the Caregiver portal

Houses are usually easily accessible and there are a variety of locks and access control options to choose from.

• Install an electronic door lock with a re-programable combination.
• Install an electronic access control system and permission each caregiver.
• Install a lockbox with two sets of keys to the home. Lockboxes should be attached to a secure fixture like a metal pipe and preferably out of easy sight.
• Are there gate, elevator or additional door codes which may be needed?
• Alarm codes needed?

Apartments come with more access challenges including during potential emergencies.

• Always have a reliable backup entry method available in case an otherwise capable adult has an injury from a fall or another medical health emergency and cannot let the caregiver into the building.
• If there is no answer, are there neighbors who can buzz the caregiver in?
• Lockboxes are the primary alternate means to gain access to the exterior of apartments however the STRATA councils often have restrictions on the use of lockboxes on the property. There has always been a creative solution for these situations to date.
• Once inside the building it is allowed to install an electronic door lock or lockbox on the apartment door for access.
• Are there gate or elevator codes which may be needed?
• Alarm codes needed?

• Every provider should have a secure privacy compliant method of storing confidential and sensitive information such as home access instructions and other access codes.
• CommunityPlus stores home access instructions and other entry codes in our unified care software, compliant with Canadian privacy legislation, that ensures only currently scheduled caregivers have access to home access and other confidential information.