Health Starts at Home: VON Canada's Vision for Home and Community Care
Canada needs a new approach to home and community care. Why? The answer is simple - Our current approach is not working as well as it could be. It is not working for….
- seniors who want to age at home and retain their independence, but they can’t because they lack access to the supports and care they require to remain safe and healthy in their homes.
- family and friend caregivers who provide countless hours of care to their loved ones - saving the health care system billions of dollars each year, yet they receive few resources and little recognition for their efforts.
- the health care system because there is so much we can do in homes and communities to keep people healthy and out of hospitals and emergency rooms. An enhanced approach will also enable individuals to be discharged from hospital and return home more quickly with supports they require.
Many governments are taking steps to improve Canadians access to home and community care and respond to their unique needs, however, progress is slow and ad hoc. At VON Canada, we believe that we can and we must do better!
As part of our strategy to initiate debate and dialogue on the topic of home and community care, VON Canada has developed a vision for home and community care for Canada, entitled Health Starts at Home. Our vision reflects our rich experience and intimate knowledge of the sector and the health and social needs of Canadians.
Given our aging population and the preference of Canadians to “age at home” the demand for home and community care will continue to grow. Therefore, Canada needs to make some significant changes to the way we care for people in their homes and communities. Canada needs a national, comprehensive approach to home and community care and we need your help to make this happen.
Below you will find links to our vision document in various formats. Whether you are a policymaker, a health care provider, a family caregiver, a client, a journalist, or a concerned citizen, there is room for you to help transform VON Canada’s vision from words into reality. Start a conversation – talk to friends, neighbours, colleagues about how home and community care affects your life now and into the future.
Overview
Executive Summary
Full Report
For more information please contact Teresa Petch at Teresa.Petch@von.ca