SUN president, Tracy Zambory, RN, joined nursing leaders from across Canada in Edmonton yesterday in hosting the CFNU "Safe Model for Home Care" breakfast for provincial and territorial health ministers. It was great to see Saskatchewan's Hon. Jim Reiter, Minister of Health and Hon. Greg Ottenbreit, Minister Responsible for Rural and Remote Health, in attendance.
Canada needs a safe-at- home policy and more nurses providing home care to address the risks patients and nurses face every day.
Home care is overloaded and lacks important measures to ensure that safe, high-quality care is provided. Clients and caregivers are struggling to deal with long wait times and a patchwork of services, and are at risk of both physical and psychological injury. Health care providers lack the protections and standards present in more traditional work environments.
With new federal funding for home care on its way, now is the time to commit to improving home care. The October 19th breakfast meeting provided nursing leaders with the opportunity to provide provincial and territorial health ministers with their recommendations.
You can join them in showing your support for a safe model for home care, and specifically for nurse-led home care interventions by visiting: https://speakup.cfnu.ca/alert/take-action-to-support-a-safe-model-for-home-care/
Recommendations included:
- A safe-at-home policy;
- Seniors/patients’ appropriate and timely nursing assessments and interventions supported by the full health care team;
- Managerial continuity of care provided by a primary nurse to ensure timely and seamless access to care providers; and
- Education and support for all members of the team, including unpaid caregivers, and standard competencies for personal support workers/care aides.
