Ontario advocates say more home care is solution to hallway medicine
Home Care Ontario is advocating for the province to focus on home care as a solution to the issue of hallway medicine. This initiative is particularly important for patients like Novelette Munroe, who shared her struggles with the current system. Munroe, who resides in Scarborough, has Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa, a skin condition that necessitates regular bandage changes to prevent infections.
Unfortunately, Munroe has been facing challenges in finding enough nurses to provide her with the necessary care. She expressed her concerns about the lack of available nurses during weekends, which has resulted in gaps in her care schedule. While her 70-year-old mother has been assisting her, they both worry about what will happen when this support is no longer feasible.
Staffing shortages are a major issue that Sue VanderBent, CEO of Home Care Ontario, aims to address with increased government funding. VanderBent emphasized the importance of home care in maintaining a healthy healthcare system and highlighted the significant number of individuals on long-term care waitlists in Ontario.
As part of their campaign, Home Care Ontario is calling for a 10% annual increase in home care visits and hours for the next three years, which amounts to approximately 16.5 million additional hours of care. Munroe and experts like Dr. Samir Sinha from Sinai Health support this call for increased investment in home care services to meet the growing demands of Ontario’s aging population.
Dr. Sinha emphasized the current challenges faced by the healthcare system, with many individuals occupying hospital beds while waiting for home care services. He stressed the need for additional investments in home and community care to alleviate the strain on hospitals and long-term care facilities.
While the Ministry of Health has acknowledged the importance of expanding access to home and community care, Home Care Ontario believes that a new approach prioritizing home care is necessary. Although the government has previously invested $1 billion in expanding these services, VanderBent emphasizes the need for a more comprehensive strategy to address the healthcare needs of Ontarians effectively.
In conclusion, the call for increased investment in home care services by Home Care Ontario is crucial in addressing the challenges faced by patients like Novelette Munroe. By prioritizing home care, the province can improve healthcare outcomes, reduce hospital wait times, and ensure that individuals receive the right care in the right place.
