Liberal announcement highlights need for home care as federal priority

OTTAWA, Oct. 5 /CNW Telbec/ - The Canadian Home Care Association (CHCA) congratulates the Liberal party of Canada for committing to engage in a dialogue on home care. In his remarks today, Michael Ignatieff expressed the need to ensure that the interests of Canadians are protected through a renewed agreement on home care as part of the federal, provincial and territorial discussions in 2014.

The home care sector makes an important contribution to Canada's health care system and, most importantly, to the health and wellbeing of Canadians. Evidence has shown that the provision of services in the home and community can reduce wait times for acute hospital beds, effectively support frail and vulnerable seniors to remain independent and safe at home, proactively support individuals with chronic conditions and provide choices for end-of-life care.

Community-based services that are integrated and co-ordinated across the health care system can be a cost-effective way to maintain people's independence at home. Support from families and friends is vital to realizing that goal. As such there is a need to:

    
    -   Agree on a set of national principles in order to ensure equitable
        access to home care services across Canada
    -   Provide support for family caregivers
    -   Build awareness as to the need for Canadians to develop their plans
        to support their independence as they age
    -   Establish the infrastructure to enable technology applications that
        facilitate independence at home
    -   Invest in research and dissemination of best practice.
    

"We are pleased that the desire to remain at home for as long as safely possible has been heard," said Nadine Henningsen, CHCA Executive Director. "Leadership from the federal government on this issue is of vital importance to Canadians."

The CHCA welcomes the opportunity to work with all parties and jurisdictions to continue the dialogue on the direction for the future of home care in Canada.

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. Members of the Association include organizations and individuals from publicly funded home care programs, not-for-profit and proprietary service agencies, consumers, researchers, educators and others with an interest in home care. Through the support of the Association members who share a commitment to excellence, knowledge transfer and continuous improvement, CHCA serves as the national voice of home care and the access point for information and knowledge for home care across Canada.

For further information: Nadine Henningsen, Executive Director, Ph: 905 361-3277, Email: [email protected]; www.cdnhomecare.ca