Business View Magazine
5
Home Care
Meeting the Needs of
an Aging Population
With 15 percent of Canada’s population now aged 65 and
older, and our senior population set to double in the next
20 years, quality home care is growing in importance.
Increasingly, governments and health care organizations are
emphasizing the need to maintain older Canadians in their
homes or in facilities intended for chronic care, rather than in
institutions designed for acute care.
Home care has always played a major role in VON’s
services, and remains the largest component of our business.
In Ontario the new contract performance framework with
the Community Care Access Centers (CCAC) ensures every
service provider is highly accountable for delivering quality
services. Our Lean redesign completed in Ontario in 2012
has positioned us to be open for business in care delivery
to meet and exceed client and CCAC expectations. In Nova
Scotia, with Lean redesign underway, VON is well positioned
to deliver the quality of care that we are known for, to more
people, with increasing efficiency.
The growth in home care services in Ontario and Nova Scotia
is particularly strong, with VON home care visits in the two
provinces growing by 12.5 percent in 2013 – 2014.
The number of visits for our visiting nursing program also
shows steady growth in both provinces, with 8.2 percent
growth in 2013 – 2014.
“I have peace of mind in
knowing that the nurse (…)
will notify me of any changes
in my mother’s health. I also
appreciate having a nurse to
consult with from time to time.”
– Daughter of a Nursing client
VON CANADA ANNUAL REPORT 2014 |
7
preventative means. Education of the public is key for
a company viewed solely as a home care organization
in the past. Today, VON has a much broader mandate
which has evolved due to a real need in different re-
gions. The expanded profile includes community sup-
port servic s such as transportati n, nutrition, assist-
ed living, adult day and respite care, and private pay for
those who may not qualify for g vernme t programs.
“It’s about appealing to all of the demographic ro t,”
says Poirier. “There may be a perception that we only
cater to seniors, but really, we provide a range of ser-
vices for the whole community – from newborns to pal-
liative care.”
The beauty of the VON model is the “grass roots” style
that takes regional differences into account when tai-
loring operations to suit the needs of th community,
in concert with funders. Poirier notes, “Often, provin-
cial governments have different funding models. We
adapt to those, while working closely with the govern-
ment to make sure we fulfill our obligations to see as
many clients as we can and offer the greatest care.”
Dealing with rules that vary by province is a challenge,
but one that benefits the big picture. “It certainly adds
a complexity,” Poirier admits, “but also a richness. If
we have developed a good practice (like our SMILE
program in Ontario), we will approach other provincial
governments to let them know we have an innovation
in another region that might be transported into their
own community. That seems to be resonating well.”
S.M.I.L.E
S.M.I.L.E. - Seniors Maintaining Independent Living
Easily - is about working with the government to assist
