Home care emerges as an important national election issue

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Oct. 1, 2015 /CNW/ - The Canadian Home Care Association (CHCA) applauds the announcement today by the Liberal Party of Canada to "make real and immediate investment in home care for Canadians."

This promising announcement was highlighted today when the Liberal Party of Canada presented its plan to invest in health and home care by re-engaging on Canadian healthcare and negotiating a new Health Accord with provinces and territories. Commitments that was made under this plan include an immediate investment of $3 billion over the next four years to prioritize additional and improved home care services for all Canadians.

Our aging population, increasing life expectancy, growing prevalence of chronic diseases, health innovations and changing health consumer expectations are all catalysts for the expansion of health care beyond hospitals and physicians.  Across Canada, provinces are experiencing an unprecedented demand for home care services and yet, an average of only 5 % of public health dollars are spent on home care. To further exacerbate the challenge, this funding percentage has not changed over the past 10 years despite a 55% increase in the number of individuals receiving home care. In 2012, nearly half a million Canadians (461,000) needed access to home care services to support their chronic health conditions but did not receive it.  

"Home care is an essential part of our health care system. It is not only what Canadians value but also a sustainable and effective solution to meet our future health care needs", said Nadine Henningsen, Executive Director, CHCA. "Canadians want a health care system that will not only diagnose, fix and cure, but will support independence and quality of their health throughout their lives. Home care enables that – it avoids unnecessary emergency visits or hospital admissions."

Home care is a priority for Canadians.  Four in five Canadians said that providing quality home care is an expression of Canadian health care values. But more than three-quarters of those polled said that the federal government is not doing enough with respect to home care.

Since 1990, the CHCA has advocated for recognition and funding for the home care sector within an integrated health care system. On behalf of our membership across the country, we are pleased that home care is recognized as an important national issue during the federal election campaign.   

Learn more about the CHCA key messages and election tool kit at www.cdnhomecare.ca.

About the Canadian Home Care Association
The Canadian Home Care Association (CHCA), incorporated in 1990, 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.

SOURCE Canadian Home Care Association

Catherine Suridjan, MSW, RSW, Policy Analyst, Canadian Home Care Association, Tel: [phone] | E-mail: [email protected], @CdnHomeCare