Issue link: http://clhia.uberflip.com/i/354914
10 The CLHIA recommends that Canadians be empowered to make choices under a patient centered care approach, including whether to obtain care at home or in an institution setting. 4. RESTRUCTURING OF LONG-TERM CARE TO RECOGNIZE THE CONTINUUM OF CARE Long-term care is a continuum that includes various degrees of support through informal care, home care and institutional care. Unfortunately, the current system does not reflect this. Canadians currently have a very siloed system marked by a lack of coordination between institutional structures. As a result, particularly from a patient perspective, the system is complex to navigate. This complexity increases stress on the individual and those that act of behalf of the patient to help with care needs (e.g., informal caregivers). The lack of coordination across various institutional supports also leads to significant inefficiencies in the system as different types of care are provided without an overall coordinated approach. As a result, resources are not optimally allocated to where they are needed most and duplication can occur. It is important that we focus on ways to seamlessly transition individuals along the continuum as their needs change. A key implication of this recommendation is that change to the current system is required to break down the silos that exist. One model that shows promise in this regard is all-in-one or holistic organizations that provide the entire continuum of services to individuals. International experience, such as in New Zealand and Australia, has shown that care provided across the continuum can be extremely successful both from a cost and quality of life perspective. Reform that moves Canada from its current fragmented system into a more uniform and coordinated system would yield benefits for both patients and providers of care. Organizations that provide the full range of services or can demonstrate that they effectively and efficiently integrate with other organizations along the continuum of care should be encouraged over siloed operations. In particular, the allocation of potential funding from government should favour those that are part of a formal network of organizations, or organizations that offer the full range of care options over those that do not. As mentioned, one area of stress for Canadians currently is how best to navigate within the current system. The creation of a single point of contact for the long-term care system would be very beneficial. In addition, the creation of a coordinator role or patient advocate who would guide patients through the continuum of care would help to ensure seamless transition along the continuum. Recommendations To the extent that governments are involved in the funding of long-term care facilities, the CLHIA recommends that future funding be prioritized to organizations that offer the full range of long-term care services themselves, or that can demonstrate that they effectively and efficiently integrate with organizations across the continuum of care.