A new public opinion survey conducted by Campaign Research Inc. finds that 89% of seniors are either very concerned (57%) or concerned (32%) about the availability of home care services in the province given the significant increase in demand caused by the rapid growth in the seniors population over the next five years. 86% of seniors believe the government has not invested enough to prepare the home care system for the growing seniors population, and 61% of seniors believe it should be the government’s top priority to invest and build the home care workforce.
“Seniors are worried, and rightfully so,” said Sue VanderBent, CEO of Home Care. “(The) seniors population is ballooning and they want to ensure that we have a home care system that can help care for them. Investing today means home care will be there for our seniors tomorrow.”
Recently released research by Dr. Arthur Sweetman and Dr. Boris Kralj at McMaster University’s Centre for Health Economics & Policy Analysis in Hamilton, show that the seniors population is exploding over the next five years, with dire consequences for patient care without massive investments to build the home care workforce.
The polling released also showed overwhelming demand for the government to provide financial relief for family-funded home care, with 9 out of 10 seniors, or 90% saying the government should offer tax relief. Of those who have thought about where they would live in their later years, 92% of respondents over 65 plan to stay in their own home or apartment as long as possible.
Other Key findings
- 71% of seniors believe professional caregivers should be paid at the same rate regardless of whether they work in home care, long-term care or in hospitals.
- 76% of seniors believe the government should help educate people about what to look for when accessing additional home care services.
- 95% of seniors believe the government should be very concerned (56%) or concerned (39%) that the home care sector says the system needs $411M a year for the next three years to prepare for the growing number of seniors who will require care at home.
- 61% of seniors believe it should be the government’s top priority to invest to attract more people to become home care PSWs.
“We are ringing the alarm about the need to keep investing to grow the home care system and these findings clearly show that seniors agree,” concluded VanderBent. “The only way to do that is through continued investment to massively expand the home care system to make sure the care is available where our seniors want it – at home.”
Methodology: The polling, which was conducted by Campaign Research Inc. between February 9th to February 11th 2024, among a sample of 1,000 respondents. For comparison purposes, a probability sample of a similar size would have a margin of error of plus or minus 3%, 19 times out of 20.
