CARP  (Canadian Association of Retired Persons) endorses Home Care Ontario’s call for further investments that would provide over 16 million more hours of home care for seniors and their families across the province.

 

As Ontario’s electorate braces itself for a wintry provincial vote on February 27, major issues are quickly emerging in the inevitable political debate. CARP is taking careful but emphatic positions on those that affect Ontario’s elderly population. Among them—and of striking interest to seniors—is home care, an increasingly important issue as hospitals are filled to capacity, with patients waiting in corridors for available beds. The expression “home not hallways” resonates for many Ontario voters, especially seniors. It is the motto of Home Care Ontario and one that CARP members understand.

 

CARP endorses Home Care Ontario’s recommendation that the next provincial government invest at least $624 million over the next three years in home care. “We have a highly skilled professional home care staff at the ready, and with increased investments, we could deliver 16.5 million more hours of home care to seniors and patients in Ontario. This would be a game changer for seniors and would reduce hospital wait times and shrink the LTC  (Long Term Care) wait list,” says Sue VanderBent, CEO, Home Care Ontario.

 

A member driven organization, Home Care Ontario describes itself as having a “mission to provide outstanding nursing care, home support services, personal care, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, infusion pharmacy, social work, dietetics, speech language therapy and medical equipment and supplies to people in the comfort of their homes.”

 

Home Care Ontario’s recommendations to support and grow the home care sector are:

• Increase the number of visits and hours of home care provided by 10% a year for the next three years.

• Provide ongoing specialized training and mentorship to help retain existing, skilled home care staff; and,
• Enhance the Ontario Seniors Care at Home Tax Credit and remove the existing barriers to support increased Home Care services for Ontarians.

 

Bill VanGorder, CARP’s Education and Advocacy Officer endorses Home Care Ontario’s position.  “CARP is proud to support this initiative to expand home care in Ontario. It is critical that we solve the recurring hallway healthcare crisis and investing in home care not only alleviates pressure on our overburdened hospitals but also honours seniors’ preferences to age in place.

 

“This ‘home first’ approach is a win-win, improving quality of life for older adults while efficiently utilizing healthcare resources. It’s high time we prioritize care that keeps our seniors out of hospital hallways and in the comfort of their own homes. We call on all provincial parties to support seniors and prioritize home care in this election.”

 

“CARP’s sole focus is improving the lives of seniors and we are thrilled to have their support for our proposal to massively expand the amount of home care available in Ontario,” says VanderBent. She goes on, “With an election around the corner, we hope all parties will make home care a priority and support CARP and Home Care Ontario’s call to provide thousands more seniors with more than 16 million additional hours of care. We need to seize this opportunity and greatly expand Ontario’s home care system to meet the increased demand that we know is coming. That is truly what our aging seniors deserve.”