MISSISSAUGA, ON, Dec. 19, 2016 /CNW/ - The Canadian Home Care Association (CHCA) congratulates the federal government on their vision and commitment to better home care in Canada. Today, the federal government set the stage for transformational change in our health care system. Their offer to invest $6 billion for home care, with $1 billion of that money set aside for home care infrastructure, will have a positive impact on the lives of Canadians across the country.
The number of Canadians receiving home care has doubled over the past decade to over 1.8 million. The current demand for home care services is outpacing the available funding and resources. "There is an urgency for action and resources to ensure more and better home care services for Canadians," said Réal Cloutier, CHCA President. "With the targeted funding for home care, individuals will be able to receive appropriate services so they can recover from an illness or injury, manage long-term conditions, and live out ones' final days in their own homes."
Home care is a priority for Canadians - for policy-makers, funders, health care providers, patients and their caregivers. Provincial and territorial governments have made public commitments to enhancing home care, but to achieve transformational change and modernize our health care system, governments need a coordinated and well-resourced plan.
"The majority of public health care dollars are spent on hospital and physician services with a meagre 4 per cent devoted to home care. This lack of funding and resources result in unnecessary hospitalizations, premature admissions to long-term care facilities and ultimately, wasted health care dollars," stated Nadine Henningsen, CHCA Chief Executive Officer.
The federal government's recognition that fundamental change is needed to address the future health needs of Canadians is a vision that members of the CHCA embrace. New innovative service models enable care to shift from institutional and professional settings to a patient's home, where they can safely receive care and be more engaged in the self-management of their conditions.
The CHCA welcomes the opportunity to work with the federal, provincial and territorial governments to ensure home care is a key part of an integrated approach to health and wellness.
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
Lisa Benedet, Government Relations Lead, Canadian Home Care Association, Tel: 905-567-737 | E-mail: [email protected] | www.cdnhomecare.ca
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