ADVOCACY
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:
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.
October 27, 2016
Three national health care organizations today released a comprehensive set of actions to enhance home care in Canada. Learn More
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
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
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
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
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
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