Canadians Want Access to Better Home Care

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Dec. 20, 2016 /CNW/ - Canadians believe that home, not a hospital or long-term care facility, is the best place to recover from an illness or injury, manage long-term conditions, and live out ones' final days. 

During a six-month consultation process, conduced by the Canadian Home Care Association (CHCA), the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) and the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC), patients, family caregivers, government representatives, health care administrators, health and home care providers shared ideas and ways to make this a reality. Their ideas and actions are captured in the recently released Better Home Care: A National Action Plan (www.thehomecareplan.ca).

The Better Home Care Plan answers the question: "What actions can the federal government lead in collaboration with provinces and territories to make home care more effective and accessible?"

The response is 16 specific actions that can be achieved over the next three years through provincial and territorial collaboration and targeted federal investments in home care. The federal government's proposal of $6 billion for home care, with $1 billion set aside for home-care infrastructure, will accelerate this work.  Several priority actions that can immediately be advanced are:

• Undertake an 18-month consultation to develop principle-based home care standards (based on Harmonized Home Care Principles) to provide clarity for patients and families, set norms for high quality care and establish provider competency and skills. 
• Facilitate the establishment, monitoring and reporting of two to three national indicators for equitable access to quality home care.    
• Build capacity in the home care sector to identify, spread and scale integrated, community-based practices for individuals with chronic complex needs, and end-of-life care.   Support home care teams to implement and test change ideas.
• Accelerate the use of virtual care and telehomecare and support jurisdictions to integrate home care data into electronic records.

The health system must respond to community needs and changes to patterns of care. We have an opportunity to bring about successful transformation.  Together we can make patient-centred accountable care, integrated community-based care and sustainable care are reality.

For more information see: http://www.thehomecareplan.ca

About the Canadian Home Care Association (CHCA)
The CHCA is a national not-for-profit membership association representing home care stakeholders from governments (federal, provincial and territorial), health authorities, publicly-funded home care programs, service providers, medical and technology companies, researchers and others with an interest in home care. The CHCA advances excellence in home care and continuing care through leadership, awareness, advocacy and knowledge.

About the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA)
Representing nearly 139,000 registered nurses in Canada, the CNA is a powerful unified voice for Canada's registered nurses. The CNA represents registered nurses from 11 provincial and territorial nursing associations and colleges, independent registered nurse members from Ontario and Quebec and retired registered nurses from across the country. The organization advances the practice and profession of nursing to improve health outcomes and strengthen Canada's publicly-funded, not-for-profit health system.

About the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC)
The CFPC represents more than 35,000 members across the country. The organization is responsible for establishing standards for the training and certification of family physicians. The CFPC reviews and accredits continuing professional development programs and materials that enable family physicians to meet certification and licensing requirements and lifelong learning interests. It also accredits postgraduate family medicine training in Canada's 17 medical schools. The CFPC provides quality services, supports family medicine teaching and research and advocates on behalf of family physicians and the specialty of family medicine.

 

SOURCE Canadian Home Care Association

For further information: Lisa Benedet, Government Advocacy Lead, Canadian Home Care Association, 905-567-7373, lbenedet@cdnhomecare.ca; Kevin Ménard, Communications Advisor, Public Affairs and Member Engagement, Canadian Nurses Association, 613-237-2159 ext 543, KMenard@cna-aiic.ca; Jayne Johnston, Director of Communications, College of Family Physicians of Canada, 905-629-0900 ext 303, jjn@cfpc.ca

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