CONCURRENT WORKSHOP 23

Supporting Seniors and Sustaining Medicare: Balancing Facility and Community-Based Care in an Integrated Continuum

(Care and Services)

Why do some “at risk” seniors require long term care home placements while others, at similar levels of need, age successfully at home? This session presents findings from ongoing “balance of care” research projects in Ontario, which suggest that while seniors’ needs are an important factor driving long term care placements, access to integrated, managed home and community care alternatives is also crucial. For some seniors currently on wait lists, long term care beds are the only reasonable option; however, it appears that large numbers could be safely and cost-effectively supported in the community, in their own homes in cluster care, or in supportive housing.

Objectives:

• Use RAI-HC data to examine key characteristics and needs of seniors currently on long term care home wait lists in different parts of Ontario.

• Assess the elements and costs of home and community care alternatives.

• Consider how integrated care models, including cluster care and supportive housing, could provide safe, cost effective care options for many seniors.

A. Paul Williams, PhD, is professor of Health Policy, Department of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto where he teaches graduate courses on health systems and health policy to health care practitioners, administrators, policy analysts and policy-makers in Canada and internationally. His work emphasizes the role of home and community care within an integrated health care continuum.

Ontario Association of Non-Profit Homes & Services for Seniors
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