UPDATE: Health Minister asks for public input on NS care strategy

WATCH ABOVE: With an aging population and the demands for care increasing, the Nova Scotia government released a new document called “Continuing Care – A Path to 2017” to get public input on the issue. Global’s Ray Bradshaw reports.

HALIFAX – Nova Scotia’s Liberal government has released a new document called “Continuing Care – A Path to 2017”. It outlines the government’s plan for long-term care, home care and related services from now to 2017, and the public is being asked for its feedback.

Nova Scotia Health and Wellness Minister Leo Glavine is confident the government’s continuing care strategy will meet with people’s approval.

“In 2017 there will be a new continuing care strategy and we will look at a 5-year strategy at that point in time,” said Glavine.

Glavine says the last strategy, launched in 2006, focused on building capacity in nursing homes. Now government will focus on ensuring clients with the greatest needs get access to nursing homes first. Keeping seniors in their homes as long as possible also remains a priority.

“Really the more important shift now is toward home care,” said Glavine. “So we want a quicker access to home care provision and getting people back home as quickly as possible.”

Northwood provides various degrees of health care to people, and says they are in favour of Glavine’s ideas. “Overall I think we’re pleased,” said John Verlinden, the Corporate Director of Communications at Northwood. “Government seems to be moving in a very positive direction. We like a lot of the things they’re talking about and those are things that we’ve advocated about in the past.”

Hospitals around the province are also on boardt. “We’re really pleased with the the report,” said Susan Stevens, the Senior Director of Continuing Care for the Nova Scotia Health Authority. “It contains really important and good information to help us with planning, in terms of trying to meet the ongoing needs and the growing demand for home care and long term care services in the the province. We have as you know, have an aging population.”

Nova Scotia’s continuing care budget grew by 71 per cent between 2006 and this year. The province now spends $808-million a year on the services.

In addition to considering a change in placement policies to give people with higher needs priority, the government says it will look at user fee structures and bring in performance-based contracts for care providers.

“I think it’s great to see the focus on continuing care,” said Stevens. “It is an area in the health care system where the demand is growing and we have a real ability and opportunity to improve the quality of life for people who need our services.”