Quebec falls short in meeting home-care needs, reports Health and Welfare Commissioner
Tashi Farmilo
In the second report of the Aging Well at Home series, Health and Welfare Commissioner Joanne Castonguay delivers a resounding verdict: Quebec is failing to adequately address the population's needs when it comes to home care and support services.
Réseau FADOQ, an organization that has long raised concerns on this issue, has been consistently highlighting Quebec's struggle to keep up in this area. Unfortunately, the current level of funding is insufficient to close the gap in service provision. The commissioner's report reveals that only 13.5% of the needs of SAPA (Support for the Autonomy of Seniors) clients are being met.
Despite recent increases in funding, Quebec ranks among the provinces with the lowest financial resources allocated to home support services, as highlighted by the Commissioner.
Gisèle Tassé-Goodman, President of Réseau FADOQ, emphasizes that if the Quebec government genuinely prioritizes the shift towards home care and services, investments must keep pace with demographic trends. With Quebec being one of the fastest-aging societies in the Western world, this is crucial.
Commissioner Castonguay's report identifies numerous challenges, including inadequate human resources, limited accessibility, and a mismatch between services and the needs of beneficiaries – issues that the FADOQ Network has previously raised. "To address the persistent labour shortage, the Quebec government must implement a comprehensive staffing plan that incorporates various measures," asserts Ms. Tassé-Goodman. These measures include increasing student enrollment in health fields, developing financial incentives, recruiting international staff, and improving skills upgrading and recognition of prior learning. Additionally, the government must fulfill its commitment to breaking down barriers between health-care professions.
The report also highlights the dismal state of end-of-life home care in Quebec. Due to the insufficient supply of home support services, Quebec performs poorly in terms of providing home support during the last six months of life at home. Approximately a quarter of individuals in need of palliative care spend at least 14 days in the hospital during the last month of life, and nearly half visit the emergency department in the final two weeks. Shockingly, only 11% of the population in Quebec die at home. It is imperative to reverse this trend.
