Canadian Home Care Association Congratulates the Federal Government on their Investment in Community - Integrated Palliative Care

MISSISSAUGA, ON, June 12, 2012 /CNW/ - The Canadian Home Care Association (CHCA) applauds the federal government on their $3 million dollar investment in the national project "The Way Forward: Moving Towards Community-Integrated Hospice Palliative Care in Canada."   The project will engage stakeholders in dialogue and collaborative action so that they can move forward to create a community-integrated system of hospice palliative care.

Most Canadians with life-threatening illnesses would prefer to die at home surrounded by family and friends, yet approximately 75% of deaths in Canada still occur in hospital or long-term facilities. The gap between Canadians' preferences and current practice in the health care system is due in large part to a lack of integration between hospital, long-term/continuing care, residential hospices, shelters and individual homes.

The 10 Year Plan to Strength Health Care has led to important advancements in the provision of quality end of life care in the home setting across the country.  Today, there is a greater awareness of the needs of palliative patients and in many jurisdictions enhanced and increased home care services for those at end-of-life.  Although these are important improvements, there is still much to be done to meet the needs of individuals who choose to die in their homes.

"We are very excited about this project as it will stimulate the integration of palliative care teams across different parts of the health care system," said Nadine Henningsen, Executive Director, Canadian Home Care Association. "A collaborative approach is necessary so that expertise within and across organizations can be leveraged for the benefit of the individual and the family."

As part of our commitment to high quality hospice palliative and end-of-life care at home, the CHCA is pleased to support the move towards community-integration of hospice palliative care across all health care settings.  This project will ultimately support improved understanding and approach to chronic, serious and life-limiting illnesses so that individuals can receive compassionate and high quality health care at the end of their lives.

About the Canadian Home Care Association
The Canadian Home Care Association (CHCA) is a not‐for‐profit membership association dedicated to ensuring the availability of accessible, responsive home care and community supports to enable people to stay in their homes with safety, dignity and quality of life.

Nadine Henningsen, Executive Director
Ph: 905 361-3277     Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @CdnHomeCare