A Call to Action

Most Canadian seniors want to stay in their own homes as they grow older. In fact, about 9 out of 10 seniors say they want to “age in place,” meaning they want to remain in the homes and communities

they know, rather than move into care facilities.

However, many seniors are not getting the support they need to do this. Almost one in four seniors has had to pay out of pocket for private home care services because publicly funded care is not enough.

A stronger and better-funded home and community care system would help seniors stay at home safely and with dignity. It would also reduce the strain on long-term care homes and hospitals.

Right now, Canada’s funding system does not reflect this need. About 87% of public funding for seniors’ care goes to residential care facilities, like nursing homes, while only 13% goes to home and community care. This is very different from other countries. For example:

• Other developed countries spend closer to 35% on home care

  
  

• Denmark spends almost two-thirds of its seniors’ care budget on home and community care

  
  

In Canada, because public home care is limited, many services are provided by private companies. These services can be expensive and are not consistent across the country. This means the quality and availability of care often depends on where someone lives or how much money they have.

As a result, much of the care seniors receive at home is provided by unpaid family members and friends. A study from the University of Alberta estimates that these unpaid caregivers provide $66 billion worth of care every year—care that would otherwise need to be paid for by the health system.

We can do better.

Governments need to invest more in home and community care so seniors can live at home longer, safely and comfortably. While provinces are responsible for delivering care, the federal government can help by setting national standards and ensuring funding supports them. A senior’s level of care should not depend on their postal code.

By shifting focus toward:

• Supporting frontline home care workers

  
  

• Expanding adult day programs

  
  

• Investing in technology that helps people stay at home

  
  

• Recruiting and retaining qualified care staff

  
  

we can improve seniors’ quality of life and use health care funding more wisely.

How can we help?

We can remind federal Ministers of Health and Seniors of their responsibility to support policies that help Canadians age in place. Seniors deserve the care they need to stay in their homes, connected to their communities, for as long as possible.

Email: admin@murielsfoundation.ca

Governments need to invest more in home and community care so seniors can live at home

longer, safely and comfortably. While provinces are responsible for delivering care, the federal

government can help by setting national standards and ensuring funding supports them. A

senior’s level of care should not depend on their postal code.

By shifting focus toward:

● Supporting frontline home care workers

● Expanding adult day programs

● Investing in technology that helps people stay at home