ADVOCACY

BETTER HOME CARE IN CANADA:
A NATIONAL ACTION PLAN

What actions can the federal government take, in collaboration with provinces and territories, to make home care more effective and accessible? Better Home Care in Canada outlines 16 concrete actions proposed by patients, home care provider organizations, nurses, doctors, health care administrators and government policy planners. Based on the shared goal of “integrating health, support and care seamlessly throughout an individual’s health care journey,” the CHCA and our partners at the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC)  and the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA)  committed to working with stakeholders to achieve better home care in Canada.

The Action Plan addresses the needs of older adults living with frailty, those with complex or chronic disabling conditions, and individuals at the end of life. The recommendations include short-term (one year), medium-term (three year), and long-term (five year) actions. It reflects the experiences and knowledge of patients, caregivers, providers, policy planners and program managers involved in home and community care across Canada.

The collaborative work undertaken by the CHCA, CNA and CFPC from March to September 2016 included the following steps:

  • Creating a framework of home care priorities and best practices
  • Conducting four stakeholder consultations (Halifax, Ottawa, Whitehorse and Calgary)
  • Hosting an online survey of members of the public and care providers

The plan’s recommendations helped shape the federal, provincial and territorial Shared Health Priorities for home and community care. Released in 2017, the Common Statement of Principles on Shared Health Priorities was endorsed by all levels of government and informed the development of bilateral agreements between the federal government and provinces and territories in 2018 and 2019.

News

National health care collaborative releases Better Home Care: A National Action Plan

October 27, 2016

Three national health care organizations today released a comprehensive set of actions to enhance home care in Canada. Learn More

Federal investments will make better home care a reality for all Canadians

March 1, 2017

The targeted investments for home care and carers, announced in the 2017 federal budget, are critical steps in achieving the goal of more and better home care. Learn more

Better Home Care in Canada Report

Quick Facts

4.1%
of provincial/territorial public health dollars are spent on home care. 
Portraits of Home Care 2013

1500
More than 3/4 of Canadians polled (1,500) said the federal government is not doing enough with respect to home care.
College of Family Physicians of Canada, 2014

Over 350
patients, caregivers, doctors, nurses, health care providers and system planners provided input into the Action Plan.

3.8 Million
individuals reported having a disability that limited their daily activities.
Statistics Canada, 2012

TOOLS AND RESOURCES

Home Care Priority Matrix

The Better Care partner organizations identified resources and practices to create a framework detailing what Canadians want and need from home care and best practice elements required to meet those needs. Download the report

The Patient’s Medical Home

In this vision, every family practice across Canada offers the medical care that Canadians want—readily accessible, centred on patients’ needs, provided throughout every stage of life and seamlessly integrated with other services in the health care system and the community. Visit the website

Health is Where the Home is

This briefing document reinforces that healthy aging and the proper care of our seniors is a top priority for Canadians. Results of a national poll confirmed dramatic demographic information and the expertise of Canada’s registered nurses, emphasizing  that Canadians are right to be worried about the quality of care available to them as they grow older. Download the brief 

This post is also available in: French

Established in 1990, the Canadian Home Care Association (CHCA) is a national non-profit membership association dedicated to advancing excellence in home and community care.

National Office: 905-567-7373     |    General Inquiries: chca@cdnhomecare.ca

2000 Argentia Road, Plaza 3, Suite 302. Mississauga, Ontario, L5N 1W1

ALL OF THIS IS HIDDEN

This post is also available in: French