Canadian Home Care Association Spreads the Message to "Ask. Listen. Talk."

October 28 - November 1: Canadian Patient Safety Week

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Oct. 28, 2013 /CNW/ - Today marks the start of the Canadian Patient Safety Institute's Canadian Patient Safety Week (CPSW), a national annual campaign that runs from October 28^th to November 1^st. CPSW is meant to inspire extraordinary improvement in patient safety and quality. The Canadian Home Care Association (CHCA) is proud to support this initiative and spread the message to "Ask. Listen. Talk."

In 2011, 1.4 million Canadians received home care, a 55 percent increase from 2008.  Nationally, one in every six seniors is receiving home care services, and, given Canada's aging population, the demand for home care will only increase. "As the number of Canadians receiving care in their homes grows, the need to ensure a safe environment for both the health care provider and care recipients becomes vitally important." said John Schram, President, CHCA.

The Canadian Patient Safety Institute (CPSI) has entitled this year's campaign "Ask. Listen. Talk.", a theme that encourages conversation through asking questions, understanding through listening to answers and improvement through discussion of concerns and safety. Through increased awareness we can inspire, learn, apply, and improve the quality of care for patients, residents, and clients.

The CHCA will be facilitating dialogue on safety at home during our national home care summit, October 28^th to October 30^th.  "We have a number of interesting workshops and presentations available for home care stakeholders, with topics ranging from safe medication management and improving the safety of vulnerable citizens during emergencies, to falls prevention." stated Nadine Henningsen, Executive Director, CHCA.

The CHCA is committed to working with the CPSI to engage national partners and home care leaders across the country in the important goal of increasing safety at home, through the creation of a shared understanding, vision and principles.  Canadian Patient Safety Week is a vital step in this journey and we encourage all home care stakeholders and clients to join the conversation by visiting AskListenTalk.ca or through Twitter via #asklistentalk.

About the Canadian Home Care Association
The Canadian Home Care Association (CHCA) is a national not-for-profit membership association dedicated to ensuring the availability of accessible, responsive home care and community supports to enable people to safely stay in their homes with dignity, independence, and quality of life. Members include governments, administration organizations, service providers, researchers, educators and others with an interest in home care. The CHCA, as the national voice of home care, promotes excellence through leadership, advocacy, awareness and knowledge.

SOURCE: Canadian Home Care Association

Nadine Henningsen, Executive Director
Ph: 289-290-4389
Email: [email protected]
www.cdnhomecare.ca  / @CdnHomeCare