WHEREAS home support is a vital part of our health care system that allows seniors, people with disabilities or people with chronic health conditions to live independently and with dignity; AND WHEREAS significant cuts to hospital and residential care beds, combined with reduced access to home support have resulted in a larger burden for home support to address acute needs for fewer patients: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the UBCM request that the Province of British Columbia: - halt further cutbacks to home support services, ensure that home support is a universal program including full and part time positions, - overcome staff shortages by improving and standardizing training, implementing competitive wage scales for workers and developing an active recruitment program for home support workers, including new workers from aboriginal and ethno-cultural communities, and - create an appeal board for people to dispute their home support assessment that is both impartial and representative of seniors and people with disabilities.
MINISTRY OF HEALTH The Ministry of Health firmly believes that seniors, people with disabilities, and those with chronic health conditions should have the necessary supports to allow them to remain in their homes for as long as possible. All of the health authorities are actively working to enhance home support and other community-based service options to address our clients care needs. The Province of British Columbia Province continues to have a comprehensive, well-funded home care and home support programs ensuring seniors who have the highest level of needs receive the care they require. In 200708, the health authorities will spend 604.7 million for community based services including home support, home care nursing, community rehabilitation, case management and adult day programs for the Provinces seniors. This is a 51 percent increase in expenditures since 2001. This is part of a continuum of increasing support with 18.2 million more invested in home support in 200607 than in 200506. In addition, 18 percent more clients received home care nursing and community rehabilitation services in 200506 than in 2001, and the average number of hours of home support services per client per year increased by 25 percent, from 198 hours per client in 200001 to 248 hours per client in 200506 . Preliminary figures indicate that both total home support clients and hours of home support service increased over the past two years, from 200405 to 200607. Approximately 73 percent of home support clients receive assistance at no cost to themselves. Clients who are aged 65 and older pay no user fee for home support if they are in receipt of the Guaranteed Income Supplement, the Spouses Allowance or the Widowed Spouses Allowance under the Old Age Security Act Canada. Clients who believe paying the assessed client rate will cause serious financial hardship may apply to their health authority for a rate review. Under the Health Services Management Policy, Section 7.4, all health authorities are required to have a complaint policy and process in place to address written client complaints. On March 31, 2006, the Health Employers Association of British Columbia and the unions comprising the Community Bargaining Association signed a four-year collective agreement. This agreement covers approximately 15,000 employees who work at home support agencies, child development centres, mental health centres, community service agencies and health authorities throughout the Province. The agreement included significant improvements to working conditions and wages, which will assist in the recruitment and retention of home support workers. 1 CERTS 2007-0980, HIS, HIMB, HSP, MoH, November 15, 2007