With a growing segment of the population over 65, especially baby boomers, and increasing life expectancies, the demand for home care services is rising. Many older adults require complex care that often accompanies advanced age. However, it’s not surprising that many individuals in need are falling through the cracks of Canada’s traditional healthcare system. In 2021, while 6% of Canadian households received formal home care, nearly half of them reported that they still had unmet needs despite receiving some level of support1.
Reasons For The Gaps In Home Care
When examining the type of services delivered, 48% of individuals reported receiving only medical care at home (e.g., nursing), while nearly one-third reported receiving non-medical care (e.g., help with activities of daily living or ADLs), and 20% received both. This shows that there is also likely a gap in the type of care provided (primarily non-medical care) as one can assume that individuals requiring medical care in-home would most likely benefit from support with other home-related activities (ADL’s and IADL’s). A shortage of trained non-medical home care workers is often cited as the cause. For instance, in British Columbia, the BC Care Providers Association’s report “10 Facts You Need to Know About the HCA Shortage in BC” points to low wages as a primary reason behind this shortage. Likely, BC isn’t alone, as recruiting and retaining skilled caregivers remains a challenge across the country.
The Impact Of Unmet Home Care Needs
These gaps in home care have a profound impact on individuals who rely on such services. According to Statistics Canada, “the extent to which home care needs are being met is relevant to the well-being of both the individual and the health care system. Unmet home care needs have been linked to negative consequences such as poorer health and increased use of other health services, admission to nursing homes, and reduced emotional well-being.2“
Home care workers often play a key role in care coordination, such as monitoring a patient’s medication adherence, noting changes in mobility, and reporting cognitive shifts to the broader healthcare team3. Without these caregivers, significant health concerns may go unnoticed. Addressing these gaps is critical to ensuring that people who require in-home care receive it—and to doing so, we must explore new solutions that address the underlying issues affecting both the public and private home care industries.
Gravitii’s Solution To Filling These Gaps
Gravitii Technologies is committed to addressing these gaps in home care by connecting patients and family caregivers directly with available care providers using our technology. By removing unnecessary layers of bureaucracy, Gravitii helps lower the cost of care while ensuring families can access the services they need. Care providers on our platform are empowered to set their own rates, allowing them to feel valued and attract more skilled workers, ultimately contributing to better care consistency.
By creating a system that is more efficient and flexible, Gravitii aims to fill gaps in home care services that are often left unaddressed by both public and private providers. If you or someone you know needs home care services that aren’t being met, register for free to get started. If you’re a home care provider looking to help bridge these gaps, sign up today!
1Home care use and unmet home care needs in Canada, 2021 Released at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time in The Daily, Friday, August 26, 2022
2Unmet home care needs in Canada by Heather Gilmour Release date: November 21, 2018
3Nonmedical Care Providers Play a Key Role in Moving Patients Home by Rich Paul Thursday, May 4, 2023, https://www.homecaremag.com/
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