Elderly patients face hurdles in home health care after hospital discharge, leaving families overwhelmed and seeking support.
Ontario: Vanessa Leslie is trying to start her own business after retiring from the Ontario Provincial Police. But her plans hit a snag when her mom had a health scare a few weeks ago.
Now, her life is all about making sure her 91-year-old mom gets the care she needs. After suffering a stroke in late November, her mom was in the hospital and came home on December 16.
Leslie said, “We never wanted to put mom in a long-term care home. That was a family decision.” She added that the government encourages families to keep elderly loved ones at home, promising support, but it’s been a real struggle to get that help.
When her mom was discharged, Leslie was told everything would be ready for her at home. But she kept asking if personal support workers (PSWs) and therapy were lined up. Unfortunately, once they got home, it was a mess with constant cancellations and delays.
She’s not alone in this. Kathleen Finlay from the Center for Patient Protection hears similar stories from many families. She pointed out that patients are often sent home too soon without proper planning, which can be especially risky for elderly patients.
Leslie feels the pressure of taking on healthcare duties when the services aren’t showing up. She mentioned, “My mom has a catheter, and I had no idea how to handle it. I didn’t see a nurse until a week after we got home, and it’s been tough.”
While some say early discharge is a big issue, others believe the real problem lies in the overwhelmed home health care system in Ontario, especially with an aging population.
Graham Webb from the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly said getting home care after discharge is just part of the challenge. Once families do get help, the service can be hit or miss due to a shortage of workers.
This shortage has been a long-standing issue in Ontario, and the provincial government claims it’s working on it. They plan to invest $2 billion over three years to boost home and community care services, aiming to improve pay for frontline workers.
Ema Popovic from the Ministry of Health said they’ve added nearly 25,000 PSWs since 2021 and increased service volumes by 10% this year. But while many appreciate the funding, concerns remain.
Webb pointed out that home health care is often run by for-profit companies, which can lead to problems when families have complaints about service. He believes there should be more public oversight and accountability in the system.
This sentiment is echoed by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which has been fighting against the privatization of home health care. They argue that the ongoing restructuring hasn’t solved the core issues like low wages and high staff turnover.
Despite the government’s assurances, Leslie still worries. While things are getting better with PSWs showing up more regularly, she described the first few weeks after her mom’s discharge as a nightmare.
“It shouldn’t have been that hard,” she said. She’s reached out to Ontario health and the Patient Relations department, but hasn’t heard back. “If you say these services are available, you need to ensure they’re ready before sending someone home.”
Finlay added that families need to be proactive. “If you’re bringing someone home, start early. Find out who the discharge planner is and get everything in place. You might not have a date yet, but it could come up quickly.”
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