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Funding for home care is welcome, but falls short of wonderful FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Saint Elizabeth Health Care's Response to the Provincial Budget (Ontario) May 18, 2004 Funding for home care is welcome, but falls short of wonderful Markham, ON If you’ve ever sat in a crowded emergency room, been put on a waiting list for a long-term care bed, or needed to travel long distances to receive specialized care and advice, today’s announcement of $448 million over four years for home care may eventually offer some relief. “This is a cautious step in the right direction,” said Shirlee Sharkey, President and CEO of Saint Elizabeth Health Care. “Targeted funding for home care has the potential to strengthen the health system as a whole from long-term care and acute care to primary care, home care and public health but based on today’s budget announcement, we’ve still got a long way to go.” If home care is to be a viable alternative to more costly and often unnecessary institutional options, it needs greater focus and sufficient investment today and in the long-term. “We’re pleased to see that the government is investing in high quality patient care, moving towards more timely access to home care services that are comprehensive and responsive to their needs,” said Sharkey. “At the same time, however, lack of comparable compensation across sectors continues to be a real challenge in recruiting and retaining qualified home care personnel and targeted resources in this regard are necessary.” As one of the fastest growing components of the health care system, Roy Romanow has dubbed home care “the next essential service.” In addition to providing advanced care and treatments, home care has the ability to deal effectively with issues related to health promotion, disease prevention, self-management, client independence and quality of life. Moreover, by embracing new and emerging delivery models, organizations such as Saint Elizabeth Health Care are moving beyond the traditional definition of home care to provide customized health information, education and care any time, anywhere. “Our role and value as a not-for-profit in the 21st century is centred on creating wealth for communities and that includes ensuring that our publicly funded, universally accessible health care system is both responsive and sustainable,” said Sharkey. “Home care is and will continue to be a vital component of that equation.” Established in 1908, Saint Elizabeth Health Care is a Canadian not-for-profit charitable organization that provides a diverse range of home and community health services throughout Ontario, delivering more than two million visits annually. -30-
Madonna Tonack, Public Affairs Specialist Sources |