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January 15, 1996
(Health)


Changes to home support program clarified

Government is committed to Newfoundland's home support program and will continue to provide services to seniors based on their assessed needs, Health Minister Lloyd Matthews said today following recent media statements regarding changes to the home support program. "Once the changes to the program have been fully implemented, residents of this province will still be entitled to more hours of home support than residents of any other province in Canada," said Mr. Matthews. For example, New Brunswick provides under $1,500 per month, Saskatchewan $2,000 compared with $2,100 in Newfoundland, after the adjustments have been made.

"Home support is one component of a continuum of continuing care services which range from home support, personal care homes to nursing homes," said the minister. "The program provides such services as respite care, which is care for the caregiver, home management and personal care to individuals requiring minimal assistance to remain in their homes. If, after an assessment is carried out, there isn't a need for an individual to be in a nursing home, then we will provide assistance to that individual to remain in the home. However, it is not reasonable to provide 24 hour at home care to individuals who require the high level care provided in a nursing home."

The minister added: "The home support program was never intended to replace family care or nursing home care yet in many cases that is how the program has evolved. Its original intention was to provide some assistance to individuals who, for the most part, were able to remain at home because of their own mobility or because of family supports. It was never intended to convert residential homes into separate health care institutions. Once an individual is no longer able to realistically remain in the home, then other services such as personal care homes and nursing homes are made available."

Contrary to some recent statements, it is not appropriate to make cost comparisons between home support and nursing homes as various factors need to be considered and these factors may vary with each client. For example, there are spaces available in personal care and nursing homes right now yet these spaces still have to be maintained so there is a cost whether the beds are occupied or vacant. As well, some clients of home support were far exceeding the cost of placement in a personal care or nursing home. The effective use of health resources along the continuum of care is a priority. "I can assure you, the changes to the home support program are not resulting in a higher cost to the taxpayers of the province," said Mr. Matthews.

The minister also pointed out that while limits of $2,100 per month have been placed on individuals, there is no set limit in place for couples receiving home support as assessments are carried out separately. "Assessments are done on an individual basis, yet in instances where there are two individuals in the same home, some services can be shared and that is a factor taken into consideration during the assessment. There has not, however, been a set limit placed on funding to couples."

The minister said the home support program in Newfoundland and Labrador is an excellent model for continuing care services and one that compares very favourably to similar programs throughout the country.

Contact: Jill Sooley, Director of Public Relations, (709) 729- 1377.

1996 01 15 4:40 p.m.

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