Provinces, territories may expand home care
TORONTO - Provinces and territories will likely have to expand home care as a way to deal with the demographic deluge of aging Canadians.
P.E.I. Premier Robert Ghiz says the aging population is a major concern, because there aren't enough nursing home beds to accommodate the surge of seniors needing care.
He says provinces and territories are probably on the "low end" of spending on home care, which many seniors prefer.
Ghiz says if they can allow more seniors to stay in their homes, it will improve health care and provide better value for money.
Ghiz and Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall were speaking in Toronto today at a gathering of provincial health ministers.
They say they're making progress on lowering the cost of generic and brand-name drugs, and talking about ways to make the system more efficient by eliminating unnecessary diagnostic imaging, for example.
