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.

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For more information, contact:

Madonna Tonack, Public Affairs Specialist
(905) 940-9655 ext. 2269
mtonack@saintelizabeth.com
www.saintelizabeth.com

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