Home Care is Cost-Effective and Associated with a Higher Quality of Life According to The World Health Organization

The World Health Organization (WHO) states that Home Care services can prevent the need for acute care or long-term care services by helping clients meet their health care and support needs while remaining in their home and community. Research has consecutively shown Home Care services to be cost-effective and associated with a higher-quality of life for clients.

On average, people with dementia live 8 years after diagnosis—the first 6 are usually spent at home and the last 2 are often spent in care facilities. Coordinating that transition for people with dementia and their families is not always smooth in our current system.

Jacqueline J.M. Hoogendam, dementia specialist with the Netherlands' Ministry of Health says “People with dementia benefit from clear pathways of care, and ideally, a one-stop shop for all their care needs and wishes.”

Prior to the Netherlands National Senior Health Care Programme, options for care included living at home and travelling to services or living in large residential care facilities, that varied widely in quality and service. This left seniors and their families looking for other options.

Now the Netherlands is working to keep seniors and people living with dementia in their homes as long as possible by bringing more care into their homes. 

“We want to enable people to stay at their own homes as long as possible,” says Hoogendam. “The Netherlands National Programme is working to provide more organized care closer to home so that people living with dementia today and in the future are fully integrated into their local communities.” Home Care is a cost-effective compared to other forms of care such as hospital stays or senior care homes. 

Here are a Few Reasons why Home Care is a Cost-effective Option:

Reduced Healthcare Costs: Home Care allows individuals to receive necessary care in the comfort of their own homes, eliminating the need for expensive hospital stays or premature admission to residential care facilities. The cost of Home Care services is often lower compared to the high costs associated with institutional care whether it be Assisted Living, Residential Care, or specialized Memory Care units.

*We will discuss the detrimental effects of premature admission to residential care for seniors in a future blog.

Personalized Care: Home Care provides personalized one-on-one attention to individuals based on their specific needs. This individualized approach can help prevent unnecessary hospitalizations or medical emergencies, reducing healthcare costs in our over-burdened provincial healthcare system and freeing up much-needed beds in acute care hospitals. 

Preventing unnecessary hospitalizations is important to avoid picking up a Nosocomial Infection, also referred to as Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI). HAIs are infections acquired during the process of receiving health care that was not present during the time of admission. They may occur in different areas of healthcare delivery, most commonly in hospitals and long-term care facilities.

Increasing infection rates are causing unnecessary suffering and death and are taxing the healthcare system as well as patients and families.

• Each year in Canada, more than 220,000 healthcare associated infections result in 8,500-12,000 deaths, and the rates are rising.
  
  
• One in nine hospital patients in Canada get a healthcare associated infection. These can prolong hospital stays and lead to serious long-term health complications. 
  
  
• Infections are the fourth leading cause of death in Canada.

Avoidance of Facility Expenses: By receiving care at home, individuals can avoid the higher costs associated with residing in a nursing home or assisted living facility. These facilities often have high monthly fees, many costing $10,000-$25,000 per month, which can quickly add up over time.

Home Care is often subsidized by the provincial government, but even 100% private Home Care only costs a fraction of the typical Assisted Living fees. You can have Caregivers come to your home 3-4 days a week and do the shopping, prepare your meals, clean the home and organise social events for you and your friends for only $2,500 to $3,000 per month. Far more personalised service for a fraction of the cost. 

Greater Independence: Home Care allows individuals to maintain a higher level of independence and continue living in familiar surroundings. This can contribute to their overall physical and emotional well-being and quality of life, potentially reducing the need for more extensive care or medical interventions.

Prevention of Complications: Home Care providers can assist with medication management, mobility support, and other preventive measures to reduce the risk of complications or preventable hospital readmissions. By addressing health issues promptly and effectively, Home Care can help prevent costly medical interventions.

Flexibility of services: Home Care services can be tailored to the individual's needs, allowing for flexibility in terms of scheduling and the types of assistance required. This personalized approach can help optimize the utilization of resources and reduce unnecessary expenses.