ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The CLHIA puts forward a number of recommendations for government and stakeholder consideration.
The recommendations are grouped into six broad areas:
• structural reform to address the funding shortfall;
• encouraging Canadians to save for long-term care;
• patient centered approach to long-term care;
• restructuring of long-term care to recognize the continuum of care;
• ensuring sufficient capacity of long-term care providers; and
• encouraging health and wellness promotion.
1. STRUCTURAL REFORM TO ADDRESS THE FUNDING SHORTFALL
Over the next 35 years, as the baby boomer generation passes through old age, long-term care costs will
rise dramatically. Long-term care costs fall under the category of 'extended health care services' in the
Canada Health Act and therefore can be charged for at either partial or full private rates. The support
that is offered through continuing care programs in the provinces and territories varies greatly in terms
of eligibility, scope and coverage and user fees. Unless they qualify for government support programs,
Canadians are responsible for their own long-term care costs. Nevertheless, many Canadians continue
to believe that there are existing government programs that will cover their long-term care needs.
Currently, long-term care is delivered in a range of settings
including acute care hospitals, institutional long-term care
facilities and care at home. The cost per day of providing
support varies dramatically depending on the type of setting.
For example, the North East Ontario Local Health Integration
Network (LHIN) found that the average daily cost of a hospital
bed, long-term care bed and home care are $842, $126 and
$42, respectively. 8
Table 1: Costs of Different Types of Care Treatment 7
Type of Care
Average Daily cost ($)
Hospital bed
842
Long-term care bed
126
Home Care
42
In Canada today, on a daily basis:
•
•
•
7,550 of hospital beds, or roughly 7 per cent of all hospital beds in Canada, are taken up by
individuals receiving long-term care, 9
7 per cent of Canadians age 65 and over reside in long-term care facilities, 10 and
8 per cent of Canadians aged 65 to 74, 20 per cent aged 75 to 84 and 42 per cent over 85 years of
age receive home care. 11
7, 8
North East LHIN. (2011) HOME First Shifts care of Seniors to HOME. LHINfo Minute, Northeastern Ontario
Health Care Update. http://www.nelhin.on.ca/WorkArea/showcontent.aspx?id=11258
9
Dr. Jeffrey Turnbull, President, Canadian Medical Association, February 2011, OECD Health Data 2011 and CLHIA
calculations.
10
Sun Life Financial, http://www.sunlife.ca/Plan/Health/Long+Term+Care+Insurance++Do+I+need+it?vgnLocale=en_CA
4