A survey by the New Brunswick Health Council has found that many home care needs are not being met in the province.
The survey asked over 14,000 New Brunswickers over the age of 18 on the need for home care services.
CEO Stephané Robichaud says 42 per cent said they had needs and some were only partially or completely unmet.
“The most commonly identified types of home care needs included home support services such as cooking, cleaning and other assistance, as well as medical services such as nursing or other care. Also bathing and meal preparation, that kind of thing. There are also concerns over services like transportation, and help with property maintenance, those were also identified as being needed as well.”
Home Care Services in New Brunswick: Are We Meeting the Needs of Citizens? Check out the NBHC’s latest information on Extra-Mural and Home Support Services and why it should matter to you. https://t.co/bHtsCuPE6f #nbhc #nbhealth pic.twitter.com/h5GjtY8puz
— NB Health Council (@NBHealthCouncil) January 30, 2019
The community with the highest per cent of people saying they have unmet needs is Hillsborough and the lowest was Caraquet.
“By population group, indigenous citizens who prefer services in French, low income people with disabilities, are among the groups where there is the highest percentage of people with unmet needs,” Robichaud says.
The NBHC will be following with the results of the 2018 edition of its Home Care Survey in late February, to report on the quality of services being offered and how they impact clients.
