Equitable access: HCCC position paper on home care

Access to home care is one of the priority areas of concern to the Health Charities Coalition of Canada (HCCC). The HCCC has taken the stand that “all Canadians should have equitable access to quality home care services to help meet their primary, acute, mental health, chronic and palliative care needs, and to improve their quality of life.” Included under home care are such services as: health promotion and teaching; curative intervention; end-of-life care; rehabilitation, support and maintenance; social adaptation and integration; and support for the informal caregiver.

In working towards this goal, members of the HCCC have been developing a Position Statement on Access to Home Care. This paper, once finalized, will be presented to the federal, provincial and territorial governments. HCCC members and various non-member health charities and consumer groups at a one-day Home Care Forum in November reviewed a draft prepared in July 2005. Colleen Maloney and Colleen Murray attended on behalf of CAPA.

The purpose of the forum was to finalize the input to the position paper through consultation. The process allowed for good discussion and the final draft, due January 15th, should be a better product because of the input provided by those in attendance. Some of the components of the draft Position Statement include:

Governments take responsibility for providing the resources that home care programs need to meet the diverse and growing needs of Canadians. Governments work with the organizations that speak for consumers and home care providers to develop a comprehensive pan-Canadian service plan. Governments recognize the critical role that informal/family caregivers play, and work with the health charities/consumer groups to provide appropriate support, education and respite programs. All those who participated in the forum will have the opportunity to see the revised version before it is issued to government.

The forum also provided an opportunity for networking and a commitment by participants to continue such collaborative efforts on health care issues. CAPA will make the Home Care Position Paper available to all members once the final version is released.

“Established in June 2000, the Health Charities Coalition of Canada (HCCC) represents national health charities of all sizes. Member organizations bring together a wealth of knowledge, expertise, experience and resources, all of which improve the health of Canadians and strengthen Canada's health system.”