Statistics Canada released a report this week entitled Canadians with Unmet Home Care Needs. The report provides information on Canadians who need home care and report that they do not receive either enough home care or any home care.
Statistics Canada and author Martin Turcotte listed the following key points from the report:
- In 2012, 2.2 million individuals, or 8% of Canadians 15 years of age and older, received help or care at home because of a long-term health condition, a disability, or problems related to aging.
- In 2012, nearly half a million Canadians, or 461,000 individuals 15 years and older, needed help or care in the 12 previous months for a chronic health condition, but did not receive it. They are referred to as persons with ‘unmet’ home care needs.
- Of the 2.2 million Canadians who received home care in 2012, 15% (331,000) did not receive all the help needed. They are referred to as persons with ‘partially met’ home care needs.
- Home care recipients with a physical disability were more likely to have partially met needs (18%) than care receivers without a disability (10%).
- Persons with unmet or partially met needs reported higher levels of stress and negative feelings. For example, 62% of care recipients with partially met needs experienced loneliness, compared with 31% of those whose needs were met.
