Over the last five years Canada has seen an increase of 55 per cent in the number of people who need home care services and the number is going up. A large proportion of the population is reaching senior years and there is an on-going move to shorten stays in hospital and send people home.
Currently 1.8 million Canadians receive publicly-funded homecare services such as wound care, rehabilitation, dialysis as well as support with bathing and meals, according to Nadine Henningsen, executive director of the Canadian Home Care Association. Another half million Canadians pay privately for such services.
ListenNeed for home care ‘growing exponentially’
Although the number of people needing services is “growing exponentially,” funding is staying the same or decreasing, she says. “The home care administrators and providers are really struggling with how do you keep up with this demand, how do you ensure that individuals receive the care that they need, but within really restrictive budgets that don’t allow you to have the resources that you need.”
Provincial and territorial governments should provide more funding for home care services which are under their jurisdiction in Canada, says Henningsen. She acknowledges that they are short of health care funds and suggests the federal government should earmark funding for home care projects.
Support needed for unpaid care givers
She also would like the federal government to consider support for family and friends who care for people at home. It’s estimated they spend $300 a month on prescription drugs, equipment or services and Henningsen thinks they should have some financial support.
Employers should make allowances for caregivers, she says, either with flexible work hours or special leave.
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