PRIORITIES

SAFETY AT HOME

Safety in home care is a top priority. Many home care clients face risks such as falls, medication errors, and infections, with a significant portion of these incidents being preventable. To address this, the CHCA is championing various initiatives to enhance safety at home, working closely with members and partners to create safer environments and improve outcomes for clients and their families. Through collaboration and innovation, we are committed to making home care safer for everyone.

Safety at Home Conversation Guides

The guides are based on the Am I Safe? Integrated Safety Model, which shifts the focus from viewing patients as being at ‘risk’ to a more empowering approach centered around ‘being safe.’ This model emphasizes two key principles:

  • patients are stewards of their own safety, and
  • safety is a continuous, open dialogue.

Through ongoing conversations, the model encourages behavior change and collaborative efforts between patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers, ultimately supporting safer home care experiences.

Download the “AM I SAFE?” Safety at Home Conversation Guides

Regulated health care providers
Unregulated health care providers
Patients and their caregivers

A Safety Roadmap

Ensuring safety in the home requires the involvement of everyone—healthcare providers, patients and their caregivers. The Safety at Home Roadmap emphasizes that safety is a shared responsibility, achieved through open communication and collaboration. Healthcare teams must be equipped with the right tools and strategies to prevent risks and manage challenges, while patients and caregivers must be empowered and informed. By engaging everyone and fostering an environment where safety is a priority, the Safety at Home Roadmap provides a clear path to delivering consistent, high-quality care in unpredictable home settings.

Patient Safety Champions

We are proud to feature home care teams from across the country who are taking proactive steps to promote patient safety. These providers are engaging in meaningful conversations and adopting practical safety actions to create safer home care environments. Check out the inspiring reflections from our members on what healthcare harm means to them and their advice for fostering patient safety.

Michelle, Kim, Denise
(Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services)
Engaging clients and families leads to a better understanding of their care needs, ensures informed decision-making, improves client satisfaction, enhances safety and improves overall client outcomes.

Manuela
(VON)
When I think about Healthcare Harm, I think about negative patient outcomes that can be prevented by increasing awareness of organizational policy regarding screening for safety risks. The goal is to promote patient safety, to ultimately improve quality of care.

Claire
(Closing the Gap Healthcare)
Always encourage client questions and feedback. Giving clients the opportunity to engage in honest and open communication often leads to goal achievement and better safety outcomes for clients.

Colleen, Netty, Preet
(SE Health)
One key piece of advice for patient safety is to actively engage patients in their own care by encouraging them to ask questions, voice concerns, and participate in decision-making processes.

Melissa
(Health PEI)
Take these steps to prevent falls:
– Fall-proof your home
– Use appropriate equipment
– Ensure good lighting
– Place daily items in easy to reach places
– Reduce clutter

Pam, Antoinette, Maryanne, and Dorrel
(Spectrum Health Care)
Always promote an inclusive culture that encourages communication, collaboration and teamwork, so that potential risks can be identified and proactively addressed to ensure patient safety and high-quality care.

Jessica
(RNS Health Care Services)
Communicating about safe and effective care with your patients will allow them to live safely and comfortably in their home.

Mark
(SE Health)
For patient safety, it is important to actively engage patients in their own care.

Jennifer
(Closing the Gap Healthcare)
My advice is to treat clients like you would your own parent or grandparent. Make sure the environment is free of trip hazards and always ensure they are using their walker, wheelchair or any device/aid they need to walk safely.

Cathy, Krista, Reena, Britt
(CarePartners)
Focus on strengthening your safety culture. Patient safety thrives in a culture where incidents are embraced as learning opportunities. Encouraging open, respectful dialogue and collaboration empowers teams to improve care and continually strengthen safety practices.

Christina
(Health PEI)
Take steps to prevent falls:
– Stay physically active
– Get enough sleep
– Wear proper footwear
– Call for help if you feel dizzy or lightheaded
– Stand up slowly

Blanche
(SE Health)
Communicate with patients about how you can foster a culture of safety, while providing care and beyond.

Angela
(RNS Health Care Services)
Actively listen to clients and their families, as their insights can help improve care for clients.

Crystal
(CarePartners)
Ask patients open ended questions and listen to their answers. Pay attention to what they are saying and to their body language and facial expressions. Sometimes they say more than the words.

Bethany
(SE Health)
Engage patients in their care by encouraging them to ask questions, voice concerns and participate in decision-making processes.

Steven
(RNS Health Care Services)
I think about the avoidable risks patients face due to miscommunication and procedural mistakes, and how improving these areas can help patient safety.

Sarah
(SE Health)
To avoid healthcare harm, always engage patients in their care. Communicate often with patients about what is important to them.

Royanne, Catherine, Lara
(CarePartners)
When we think of healthcare harm, we think of:
– Preventing and avoiding harmful situations by using evidence-based, clinical practices
– Utilizing cross-functional teams that work together to support integrated people-centred care

Soyeon An
CarePartners
Thorough assessments and timely reporting are essential for establishing a safety plan. Don’t assume everything will be okay!

Kiran
(SE Health)
Always give a thorough handover across teams. It’s crucial for patient safety and continuity of care, especially in home and community care.

Melissa
(Santé Î.-P.-É.)
Prenez des mesures pour prévenir les chutes
– Restez physiquement actif
– Assurez la sécurité de votre maison pour prévenir les chutes
– Dormez suffisamment
– Utilisez un équipement approprié[show_more more=+  less=- color=#222 size=150]
– Ayez un bon éclairage
– Portez des chaussures adéquates
– Appelez à l’aide si vous vous sentez étourdi ou faible
– Placez les objets quotidiens dans des endroits faciles d’accès
– Levez-vous lentement
– Réduisez le désordre
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TOOLS AND RESOURCES

AM I SAFE? Environmental scan

This environmental scan of the tools and resources available in Canada includes care providers within the health care system in three targeted areas (hospital discharge planners, primary health care and home care service providers). Download Scan

Use your medications safety – Infographic

This user-friendly resource helps patients and caregivers understand and use safe medication practices.  Based on evidence-informed reports, this infographic outlines steps to (a) know medications (b) record medications and (c) review and update a patient’s medication list. Download Infographic

Safety at Home – Falls prevention

Falls are the leading cause of injury-related hospitalizations among older people.  Apart from causing injury, falls can result in chronic pain, reduced quality of life and, in severe cases, death (PHAC, 2005).   This webinar features an overview of the report Pan-Canadian Safety at Home Safety Study: Implications for Falls Prevention in Home Care and a presentation on Home Care Falls Prevention: Leveraging Best Practices. Download Presentation

Safety at Home – Medication Management

Adverse medication events can occur due to errors in a variety of areas including:  documenting, interpreting and labeling of medications; the patient’s understanding of the timing, dosage, frequency, delivery; and the patient’s compliance.  This webinar features a presentation by Dr. Diane Doran, Professor, Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto, Lead Investigator on the report Safety at Home: A Pan-Canadian Home Care Safety Study, a discussion on the implications for medication safety in the home and recommendations on medication reconciliation. Download Presentation

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

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This post is also available in: French