July 7 2009

Found some more facts:

* Seniors 85+ compose the fastest growing segment of the population

* Home care is one of the fastest growing sectors in health care - provincial budgets for this service have doubled in recent years - representing 4.3% of the total provincial and territorial governments expenditures

* 1999 census data includes - 2.1% of Canadians use home care services

*According to the National Population Health Survey in 2002 - 12% or 400,000 seniors in Canada used at least one home care service in 1997

* 10% of seniors age 65 - 69 use home care services
* 20% of seniors age 80 - 84 use home care services
* 37% of seniors older than 85 use home care services

*Currently Canada doesn't have a national home care program, nor are public home care services required to be provided under the Canada Health Act.

*Health Commissioner Roy Romanow of the Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada recommends that home care be included as medically necessary.

CONCLUSION - Home Care is needed for our growing population & isn't even regulated at the provincial level, never mind the private sector.

Why are we forgetting about our elders?

Today I called The National Pace Association in Northern Virginia, as per the recommendation of the Rural Assistant Centre. They did not have any information for me, but put me in contact with the National Home Care Association in Washington. I called and left a message.

Who would have thought that a simple question such as which states have regulations for Home Health Care would be so difficult to answer?

More conclusions to come ... hopefully