Member Services
Your membership in the Niagara Ostomy Association involves
Networking
Joining a network of caring, knowledgeable people living with ostomies who understand you and your experiences. Members have a range of experience, from those who are “newbies” to those who have lived with an ostomy for decades. Members are able to answer your questions and share information, no matter how personal the topic might be. Fellow members can provide referrals to credible sources of information and help.
Advocacy and Awareness
Supporting advocacy and awareness building that NOA members undertake on behalf of all people with ostomies, such as:
-providing ostomy information packages to the Niagara Health System (NHS), to be given to patients either pre- or post-surgery
-collaborating with the NHS to improve ostomy patient care
-maintaining contact with Niagara ostomy suppliers.
Affiliation with Friends of Ostomates Worldwide (Canada) (FOW)
You can donate new, unused ostomy supplies to FOW. The FOWC national warehouse is located in St. Catharines. Shipments of supplies have been sent to locations such as Kenya, Iran and Cuba. In 2020, ostomy supplies were sent to a Thunder Bay church group (Memoministry) and were then shipped to Zimbabwe.
Meetings
In-person monthly meetings are held in St. Catharines (Sep-Nov; Jan-Jun). Guest speakers provide information and updates about products and services that are relevant to living with an ostomy. There is always time for questions and candid conversation.
Ostomy Visiting Program
Access to our confidential Ostomy Visiting Program. You will receive support from a trained and certified volunteer who helps persons who have or will have an ostomy. Support is provided by phone, email or in-person visit.
Ostomy Health Fair
Attending our popular annual Ostomy Health Fair where a wide range of Canadian and Niagara vendors display ostomy supplies, clothing, hernia support and provide free samples of their products. Our 2024 fair will happen October 16.
Newsletters
Receiving 9 monthly newsletters - available by email or mailed to your home address.
Ask the NSWOC (Nurse Specializing in Wound Ostomy and Continence Care)
Access to our confidential Ask the NSWOC service. Your personal ostomy questions can be submitted confidentially by email to a trained and certified Nurse.
PSW Orientation
Providing orientation to Personal Support Workers (PSWs) about the various types of ostomies.
Would you like a visit from a trained visitor?
If you wish to request a visit by a Trained Visitor please contact us. Your request will be directed to our program coordinator. The coordinator will call you to get information that will help determine which volunteers are best suited to make the visit (e.g. gender, age, type of ostomy).