Ostomy Hamilton is always available to answer questions concerning living with an ostomy. Anyone can contact us for information: persons who currently or will have an ostomy, family members, caregivers, parents of ostomates, or medical professionals. Our Visiting Program is arguably our agency’s most important service.

Ostomy Hamilton has a trained group of visitors to assist with any questions or concerns you might have. The visiting program introduces the new ostomate to an ostomy veteran. Whether you have had or will have colostomy, ileostomy, or urostomy surgery, we have a trained visitor you can talk with. A visitor will come to visit you in the hospital, talk to you on the telephone or even make house calls!

Our Visitation Coordinator will assign a visitor in your age range, the same gender and ostomy type to contact you to arrange a visit. The visitor will do his/her best to address your questions and concerns. We do not offer medical advice, but if we think you need to be in contact with your doctor, we will tell you so. Rest assured, that personal information is always kept in strictest confidence.

Please also know that we also have a Spouse And Significant Other Support Group (SASO). The non-ostomate quite often wants information and support. Our trained SASO visitors are available if you have questions or if you just need someone to talk to.

Ostomy Hamilton supplies all of our local hospitals and post-surgery care agencies with “Ostomy Information Packages”. The packages contain literature, booklets and pamphlets to help answer most of your questions. These packages are surgery-specific and you should receive one while in the hospital or upon discharge. If you did not get one, please contact us and we will either bring one along with us during our visit or simply send you one in the mail if you prefer.

Please remember that we are here to help you in any way we can. You do not need to be a member to receive any of our help.

Parents of children who have an ostomy are sometimes at a loss as to what to do when their child develops problems with the pouching system or, worse still when self-image or poor self-esteem starts to creep in. (Especially during the teen years)

Ostomy Hamilton can put you in touch with other parents who have gone through these troubling times. How do you tell the school, the teachers, family and friends? Should they be exempt from normal school activities? How much should you do for your child? How do you make your child become independent when it comes to ostomy care? We have literature and other resources on loan to help answer questions like these.

If you want to speak with another parent of a child with an ostomy or a certified and trained ostomy visitor, click here to contact us.

There is no charge for this service and all calls are kept strictly confidential.

A Handbook for New Ostomy Parents

A SASO is a spouse, partner, parent, family member, friend or caregiver of an ostomate. The Hamilton Chapter offers support and help to the spouses and significant others (SASO) of ostomates. At the monthly meetings, there is an opportunity to socialize with other SASOs and find helpful information in the chapter resource center. Once a year, usually in April, an ET Night meeting is held, during which the SASOs come together as a group to discuss concerns and offer support to each other.

Our chapter raises funds gathered from individual donations, monthly meeting raffles, and investment in the sale of “break-open” lottery tickets. These funds enable us to sponsor children with ostomies to attend a one-week stay at the Ostomy Canada Society sanctioned ‘Ostomy Youth Camp’ located in Bragg Creek Alberta. The camp is usually held during the first week of July. The number of children we sponsor depends on the amount of money raised during the year.

Children with ostomies who attend this camp come from all over Canada. The Easter Seals Foundation runs the camp and accommodates other children’s groups throughout the summer. Space is limited, so registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Sponsored children must not be members of the chapter but must have permanent residence in Ontario. Parents are not allowed to attend camp with their children. There are experienced staff, nurses, counselors, and trained volunteers, many of whom are ostomates and former campers themselves, who will look after the needs of each child; this is truly an unforgettable experience for campers of all ages. We can help with registration, and airline bookings and provide current information.

HOW MUCH: The 2024 fees are $1250.00 per camper which does not include flights. Room and board are included in the fee, but transportation to and from camp is not.