seniors action plan
TRANSCRIPT
8/3/2019 Seniors Action Plan
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/seniors-action-plan 1/12
Improving Care forB.C. Seniors:An Action Plan
8/3/2019 Seniors Action Plan
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Page 1 Improving Care for B.C. Seniors: An Action PlanPage 1
Introduction
British Columbia's health system is one o our most valued social programs. Good health is a
undamental building block o a happy and productive lie and virtually all o us will access some
level o health care or health service during our lives.
Seniors are an important and valuable part o B.C.’s population. Although most o us will remain
active and healthy as we age, some o us may experience a signicant health issue, loss o
independence or isolation. When this happens, there are a range o home and community care
services available to help you maintain your highest possible quality o lie.
Over the past 10 years, the Ministry o Health and health authorities have invested signicant
resources in expanding the range o health services available to people in their own homes, and
upgrading and building new residential care acilities and assisted living residences. However,we have heard rom many o you that the system as a whole is unnecessarily complex. It can be
rustrating or you and your amily to nd the services you need, to understand the policies that
impact you, or to have your concerns heard and responded to in a timely and respectul manner. We
have all been concerned by recent cases where seniors have not received the quality o care they
required and suered as a result.
The Ministry o Health is taking immediate action to provide you and your amily with the
inormation you need to access services in a timely and inormed way, to ensure consistent and air
delivery o care, and to protect vulnerable seniors rom abuse and neglect. We are committed to
work together with you, your caregivers and community health care providers to support you in your
health care choices – rom prevention through to end o lie.
As we take concrete action over the next year to address the most pressing issues, we will also
engage in dialogue with you, your care providers and other stakeholders about the changes we
need to make to ensure B.C.’s home and community care services are responsive to the changing
needs and expectations o our aging population. We will compare B.C.’s current system with other
jurisdictions in Canada and the rest o the world to identiy opportunities or innovation. Together,we will create a sustainable system o seniors’ home and community care that will benet all British
Columbians or years to come.
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Ombudsperson's Report
The Ofce o the Ombudsperson’s report on seniors' care in British Columbia, The Best of Care:
Getting it Right for Seniors in British Columbia (Part 2), provides a comprehensive review o a number o
services in the system o home and community care across the province. The report examines home
support, assisted living and residential care services currently provided to seniors and includes 143
ndings and makes 176 recommendations to the Ministry o Health and health authorities on issues
o administrative airness, including adequacy o inormation, program accessibility, standards o
care, and monitoring and enorcement o the standards.
The ministry continues to be committed to improving the home and community care system to
address the needs o B.C.’s seniors who require these services. This plan outlines numerous
actions ocused on addressing many o the ombudsperson’s ndings and recommendations. The
actions identiy changes that can be made across the system, resulting in sustainable and lastingimprovements that will better serve seniors across the province.
The complete ombudsperson’s report can be ound at: www.ombudsman.bc.ca
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Page 3 Improving Care for B.C. Seniors: An Action Plan
Actions for Improving Home and Community
Care Services for B.C. Seniors
The goal o these actions is to establish an improved provincewide system o seniors' care by:
• Appointinganadvocatetoassistandprotectseniorsreceivingpublicandprivatecommunity and health care services and ensure complaints are resolved.
• Expandingnon-medicalhomesupporttohelpseniorsstayathomelonger.
• Providingclearpoliciesandmeasurablestandardsforhomesupport,homehealth,assisted
living and residential care services.
• Ensuringthatprovincialinspection,qualityassuranceprograms,enforcementandstatraining
in residential acilities align with standards.
• Strengtheningprotectionsfromabuseandneglect,includingimprovedprotectionsforthose who report care concerns or complaints.
• Increasingtransparencyandaccountabilitythroughpublicreportingofthequalityofcarein
publicly unded care acilities, such as patient and amily satisaction, and the incidence o alls.
Privately unded acilities will have an opportunity to participate.
• Improvingsystemexibilityandsustainability.
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Action Theme 1: Concerns and Complaints
It is important that you and your amily are able to raise your concerns and complaints about home
and community care, have them taken seriously, and have them handled in a respectul and timelyashion.
• Consultationoverthenextfourtosixmonthswillprovideseniors, caregivers, service providers
and other organizations with the opportunity to have direct input into the uture role o a
seniors’ advocate.
• AsofJune1,2012,asingleprovincialphonelinewillallowyouandyourfamilytoreport
concernsaboutyourcare.Youwillbeprovidedwithdirectsupportandtimelyfollow-upthrough
to resolution.
• TheProvincewillestablishanOceoftheSeniors’Advocate.
Sandra lives in Ft. St. John and talks with her 91 year old mother, who lives in Abbotsord,
by phone regularly. She is concerned because her mother has become conused and
doesn’t seem to be ollowing her usual routines or dressing, meals and medications.
She is not sure her mother is managing saely on her own.
When she called the health authority oce, she was told that they had not received any
request or assistance rom her mother. She met with similar rustration when her mother’s
amily physician was unable to provide inormation on her mother’s health due to doctor-
patient condentiality.
Sandra wants to be sure that someone is checking on her mother’s well being, but doesn’t
know who to ask or help.
Sandra will be able to call the provincial phone line and speak with someone who will connect
her with a care manager in home and community care services. The case manager will set up a
home visit with her mother, develop a care plan i needed and let Sandra know the outcome o the assessment. The provincial phone line lead will ollow up with Sandra to make sure she has
received the assistance and inormation she requested.
Concerns and Complaints
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Action Theme 3: Standards and Quality Management
It is important that consistent provincewide standards are established or all o your residential care
services, protected by inspection and enorcement.
• Overthenext12months,improvementswillbemadetothecare seniors receive in residential
care through regular medication reviews, enhanced training or care providers and consistent
medical oversight.
• Increasethefocusofresidentialfacilityinspectorsonhighriskareasandensureanynecessary
changesaremadetomaintainsafetybeginninginApril2012.
• Plantostandardizebenetsandprotectionstoallresidentialcareclients,regardlessofwhere
careisreceivedbyJanuary2013.
Action Theme 2: Information
It is important that you and your amily can easily access and understand all o the inormation you
need to make inormed choices about your care.
• Advancecareplanninginformationandtoolstohelpyouprepare or your uture health care needswillbeavailableonlineandthroughyourlocalhealthauthoritybyApril2012.
• Enhancementstowww.SeniorsBC.cabySeptember2012willprovideyouwitheasieraccessto
inormation on home and community health care programs and other services.
• Onlineaccesstodetailedresidentialcarefacilityinspectionreportsandassistedlivingresidence
investigationreportswillbeinplacebySeptember2012tohelpyouandyourfamilychoosea
care acility.
• Moreonlineinformationaboutyourcareandsupportoptions,howtoaccesshealthcare
services, eligibility criteria or publicly subsidized services, wait times, urgency criteria, patient chargesandhardshipwaiversbySeptember2012.
• InformationprovidedinOctober2012toassistyouandyourfamilytounderstandandlivewith
dementia, including support provided by the Alzheimer Society’s First Link program.
• UpdatedBCSeniors’GuidewillbepublishedbyDecember2012.
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Action Theme 4: Protection
It is important that strategies and measures are in place to provide you with protections rom abuse
and neglect.
• Ensuretheprotectionandsafetyofseniorsthroughconsultation and the development o a provincialelderabuseprevention,identicationandresponsestrategybyDecember2012.
• InvestintheoperationandexpansionofCommunityResponseNetworksacrosstheprovince
over the next three years, which support coordinated local actions and work jointly with other
organizations to prevent and respond to elder abuse and neglect.
Henry sufered rom Alzheimer’s disease anddiabetes. As his care needs increased, his amily
arranged to have him placed in a residential care
acility. The amily chose the acility based on
inormation provided online and a visit. The acility
had developed a care plan or him and members
o his amily visited regularly to stay involved in
Henry’s daily lie.
Henry wandered away rom the acility in winter
and passed away ater complications rom
pneumonia. An investigation into his deathsuggests that the emergency action taken by the
acility was not adequate, the care plan was not
being regularly adhered to, and that previous amily
concerns with Henry’s saety and his care had not
been addressed.
The amily eels that this incident was preventable,
and wonders what action could have been taken
to ensure the acility was better equipped to meet
their ather’s needs.
The licensing ocer will immediately initiate an
investigation to review the circumstances, put
measures in place to keep the residents sae and
establish regular monitoring o the acility based on
provincial standards. These reports will be available or
amilies to review online.
Rose lives in a small town, next door to herneighbour and good riend Charlotte. The two
women are in their late 80s. Rose ell and broke her
hip and had been receiving home health services.
A ew months ago, her daughter and son-in-law
moved in to look ater her. Since then, Charlotte
has noticed a new car in the driveway and that the
daughter has taken several extended trips while
Rose is let alone unattended. Rose has become
withdrawn and evasive when Charlotte asks her
i she is comortable with the situation at home.
Charlotte is very concerned that something iswrong, but doesn’t want to urther alienate Rose.
She doesn’t know who to ask or help and what
community resources exist or Rose.
With the new provincial elder abuse prevention
strategy and additional resources or local Community
Response Networks, there will be enhanced
coordination, more public awareness and education,
and community outreach to prevent and respond to
abuse o older adults.
The networks will ensure that the appropriate
community supports are oered, that Charlotte knows
where to ask or help and that Rose gets the care she
needs.
Standards and Quality Management
Protection
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Action Theme 5: Flexible Services
It is important to have access to the majority o your care needs and support within your own
community.
• Invest,inpartnershipwiththeUnitedWayoftheLowerMainland, in the expansion o non-medicalhomesupportservicesinupto65communitiesacrosstheprovinceoverthenext
three years, to help you age in place.
• Strengthenfamilyphysiciansandhomehealthteamsprovidingendoflifecarethroughtraining
beginninginApril2012.
• Provideprovincewideafterhourspalliativetele-nursingsupporttocaregiversandfamiliesin
yourhomeasofApril2012.
• EstablishclinicalguidelinesbyJune2012forfrailseniorsinemergencyandhospitalstoimprove
care outcomes and establish ollow up care and supports or a successul return home.
• Establishpoliciestoprovideexibilityinaccommodatingspouseswithdierentcareneeds
withinassistedlivingandresidentialcareresidencesbySeptember2012.
• Produceguidelinesfordementiacaretosupportcaregiversandpromoteevidencebased
practiceinallcaresettingsbyOctober2012.
• Overthenexttwoyears,innovativeapproachesforhomesupportserviceswillbepilotedin
dierentcommunitiesacrosstheprovince,providinggreaterchoiceandexibilityforyouand
your amily.
Richard and Betty have been married or 65 years, and have lived in the same community or
the past 30 years. At 89, Richard has signicant health issues that require care and assistance
with basic activities (eating, dressing, etc). With his complex and declining health, Richard’s
care needs qualiy or admission to a residential care acility. However, Betty is still active and
ully independent and does not need residential care services. Although the couple recognize
that they have very diferent needs at this stage in their lie, they do not want to be separated.
They wonder i there are other options to help them stay together.
New fexibility in housing and care options will allow Richard and Betty to stay together, including
individualized health care supports in their own home, and greater fexibility or assisted living and
residential care providers to accommodate spouses with dierent needs.
Flexible Services
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Improving Care for B.C. Seniors: An Action Plan Page 8
Action Theme 6: Modernization
It is important that our home and community care system is sustainable and continues to meet the
needs o B.C. seniors.
Over the next two years, the Ministry o Health will work with seniors, health authorities, and careproviders to modernize and renew B.C.’s home and community care system. This will include:
• Areviewofexistingbestpracticesofseniors'careacrossCanadaandinotherjurisdictionsto
help us design a system o care that best serves your needs.
• Anindependentreviewofthehomeandcommunitycarelicensingandenforcementsystemfor
residential acilities to identiy what changes are needed to ensure consistent standards o care
are met across the province.
• Implementingtheprovincialelderabuseprevention,identicationandresponsestrategy.
• Anindependentreviewofthecurrentpatientcarequalityprogramtoexaminehowyour
concerns and needs are being met and how you can best be served.
• Examiningwaystoimprovetheexistingprotectionsforpatientsandproviderswhoreportcare
concerns or complaints.
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What We've Done
Population aging is a success story – the act that British Columbians are living longer and that
the province has a growing senior population is something to be celebrated. The action plan will
continue to build on the changes and improvements that B.C. has introduced over the years to
ensure continued support or you and your amily.
Housing and Home Support
• In2001,theprimarychoiceswereresidentialcareandcareathome.Today,assistedlivingand
supportive housing with home support are an important part o the housing and care mix.
• AsofSeptember2011,B.C.has31,051residentialcare,assistedlivingandgrouphomebeds–a
22percentincreasesince2001(approximately6,000newbeds).
• Inthelast10years,B.C.hasalsorenovatedandupgradedmorethan13,000residentialcarebeds to meet modern standards.
• EectiveFeb.1,2012,residentialcareclientswillhaveoneofthehighestminimumretained
incomeamountsinCanadaat$325permonth.
• In2001,medianwaittimesforaccesstoresidentialcarewereuptooneyear.Today,theaverage
is45days.
• Healthauthoritiesexpecttospendover$2.5billiononhomeandcommunitycarein2011/12–
anincreaseof60percentfrom2001.
• Healthauthoritiesexpecttospendalmost$754milliononhomehealthservicesin2011/12– anincreaseofalmost86percentsince2001.
• Thereare23percentmoreclientsreceivinghomecareprofessionalservices(nursingand
communityrehabilitation)thanin2001.
• Approximately71percentofallhomesupportrecipientspayabsolutelynothingatall.
• In2009,B.C.enactedtheResidents'BillofRights,settingoutclearcommitmentstocareandthe
rights o seniors living in residential care acilities.
• TheB.C.CareAideandCommunityHealthWorkerRegistrybecameoperationalonJanuary29,
2010,toprotectvulnerableBritishColumbiansandsupportcaregivers.
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Improving Care and Quality o Lie or Seniors
• InSeptember2011,theprovincelaunchedAge-friendlyBC,agrantandrecognitionprogramto
help local governments create environments that allow seniors to enjoy good health and active participationintheircommunity.InFebruary2012,newage-friendlygrantswereannounced
for52B.C.communities.
• Since2007,theMinistryofHealthhassupportedB.C.communitiesbyprovidingtoolstohelp
them respond to an aging population. Across the province, 86 local governments rom Alert
BaytoWestVancouverhavetakenactiontomaketheircommunitiesage-friendly.Examplesof
age-friendlycommunitychangesincludewideningsidewalks,installingbenches,maximizing
green space, or making programs and services more accessible to the older population.
• B.C.businessesnowhaveaccesstoacomprehensiveguidethatprovidesinformationonhow to create a business environment that is sae and comortable or seniors – a collaborative
release between the Ministry o Health and the BC Chamber o Commerce.
• B.C.isrecognizednationallyandinternationallyasaleaderintheeldoffallprevention–the
biggest cause o injury among B.C. seniors.
• The$68.7millionHealthyFamiliesBCstrategywaslaunchedinMay2011.Asthemost
comprehensivehealth-promotionprograminthecountry,HealthyFamiliesBCishelpingBritish
Columbians, including seniors, make the healthier choice the easier choice by oering supports
to help them manage their own health and reduce chronic disease.
• In2008,theprovinceprovided$1.8millionto18communitiesthroughoutB.C.toestablish
Seniors’ Community Parks to help older adults stay mobile, physically active and healthy in their
communities.
• In2009,theprovincepartneredwiththeUnitedWayoftheLowerMainlandtodevelopandpilot
theCommunityActionforSeniors’Independence(CASI)projectinvecommunitiesaroundthe
province to help seniors stay in their own homes. CASI gives seniors access to a range o
non-medicalhomesupportservicessuchastransportation,housekeeping,homerepair,yard
maintenance, riendly visiting, and inormation and reerral to help them remain independent.
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