Alberta seniors are giving home care in the province top grades.
A survey by the Health Quality Council of Alberta says the majority of those who responded rated personal care services as good, very good or excellent.
There were some slight geographical differences.
Clients in Calgary and Edmonton rated the quality of their home care at 7.9 out of 10 compared with 8.2 in smaller cities such as Red Deer, Grande Prairie and Lethbridge.
Seniors in rural areas were most satisfied at 8.4 out of 10.
Health council CEO Andrew Neuner says providers can be proud of the results, but he adds there is still work to be done.
“We would highlight things like involving the clients more in developing their plans,” Neuner said Thursday. “We see some significant variation around how basic needs of clients are met, how medications might be managed or administered.”
Neuner said improving home-care delivery would help patients be more independent, stable and functional, thereby taking pressure off the province’s hospitals.
Some 7,171 home-care clients answered the survey — a provincial response rate of just under 65 per cent.
-With files from CFFR and CHQR.