The NACA Position

Recommendations and Policy Statements on Caregiving

no. 21

THEME

RECOMMENDATION

Privatization of Health Care

NACA identified what mix of public and private should be maintained in the Canadian health care system, if that system is to continue to offer universal access to quality care for Canada's seniors.

NACA recommended that publicly funded services be expanded to comprise all medically necessary services including home care, prescription drugs and health technologies. The NACA Position on Privatization of Health Care. (1997)

Community Services in Health Care

That single-entry models of access to all services be made available in every community to assure that seniors have access to the full continuum of care. The NACA Position on Community Services in Health Care for Seniors: Progress and Challenges. (1995)

Training of Informal Caregivers

That community resources such as day care centres and other forms of respite and support services be developed and staffed by individuals trained to support and enhance the informal caregiving of families of persons with AD or other forms of dementia. The NACA Position on Canada's Oldest Seniors: Maintaining the Quality of Their Lives. (1992)

Medication

That older seniors and their caregivers be encouraged to learn about the medications consumed by seniors and to take an active role by questioning health care professionals and reporting side effects. The NACA Position on Canada's Oldest Seniors: Maintaining the Quality of Their Lives. (1992)

Employment and Caregiving

That workplace policies be promoted that recognize the caregiving responsibilities of employees with regard to all family members who are in need of special care or support, including seniors; and that benefits similar to those related to the care of a dependent child also be provided, when appropriate, for the care of a dependent older person. The NACA Position on Managing an Aging Labour Force. (1992)

"Drop-out" Period for Pensions

That the Canada and Québec Pension Plans regulations be amended so that the "drop-out" period be expanded to include the time spent caring for an elderly person who requires full-time assistance with the tasks of daily living. The NACA Position on Informal Caregiving: Support and Enhancement. (1990)

That the federal government amend the Canada Pension Plan so that the benefits replace a higher level of pre-retirement income and that the "drop-out period" used in calculating the individual's contributory periods be expanded to include the time spent caring for an adult who requires full-time assistance with the tasks of daily living. The Québec government should similarly amend the Québec Pension Plan. The NACA Position on Women's Life-Course Events. (1993)

Allowances

That seniors who require attendant or other special services to remain in the community be eligible for an allowance in the form of cash benefits or refundable tax credits to offset the financial costs of these services. This allowance be given for costs incurred or services rendered by related or non-related persons. The NACA Position on Informal Caregiving: Support and Enhancement. (1990)

Monetary Support

That all monetary support for informal care in the community be provided directly to senior care recipients. The NACA Position on Informal Caregiving: Support and Enhancement. (1990)

Special Services

That the following services be developed in every community across Canada in consultation with caregivers and care recipients:
. Outreach and information services
. Counselling and training services
. Self-help or support groups
. Respite services
The NACA Position on Informal Caregiving: Support and Enhancement. (1990)

Longitudinal Research

That longitudinal research be encouraged to clarify the long-term impact of informal caregiving from the perspective of the care recipient as well as that of the caregiver; to understand the influence on the caregiving situation of the larger family or social group of which the care recipient and the caregiver are a part; and to evaluate the impact of specific interventions and services on the changing support needs of caregivers and care recipients. The NACA Position on Informal Caregiving: Support and Enhancement. (1990)

Recognition of Informal Caregiver

That the role of the informal caregiver, in providing assistance to seniors, must receive increased recognition and support. Brief to the Standing Committee on Health and Welfare, Social Affairs, Seniors and the Status of Women, Canada's Health System and its Funding (1990)

That formal service providers consult with frail seniors whenever possible, and work in partnership with the informal caregiver in planning and providing caregiving services. The NACA Position on Informal Caregiving: Support and Enhancement. (1990)

That formal service providers recognize the limits in the availability and capacities of children, other relatives and friends as informal caregivers as well as the fact that some older seniors do not have reliable sources of informal support. The NACA Position on Canada's Oldest Seniors: Maintaining the Quality of Their Lives. (1992)

Training of Formal Caregivers

That training, to prepare and assist formal service providers in working with informal caregivers, should be assured, both by educational institutions and by those responsible for ongoing staff development in professional associations and in service agencies. This training should also include the sensitization of formal service providers to cultural diversity sot that their services are pertinent to the special needs and concerns of informal caregivers and care recipients who are members of cultural communities. The NACA Position on Informal Caregiving: Support and Enhancement. (1990)

Communication between Formal and Informal Sectors

That improved understanding and communication be promoted between the formal and informal sectors.
More specifically, (1) Training and (2) Information and Counselling. The NACA Position on Informal Caregiving: Support and Enhancement. (1990)

Coordination between Formal and Informal Care

That coordination be assured between the various levels of formal and informal services to provide a continuum in which the individual is able to move between higher and lower levels of care or service according to identified needs. Understanding Seniors Independence: The Barriers and Suggestions for Action, Report #1. (1989)

Cooperation between Formal and Informal Caregivers

That formal service providers work with the informal network, including family members, friends and neighbours, as equal partners and support their caregiving efforts with regard to seniors. Understanding Seniors Independence: The Barriers and Suggestions for Action, Report #1. (1989)

That formal service providers consult with frail seniors whenever possible, and work in partnership with the informal caregiver in planning and providing caregiving services. (Concrete mechanisms should be developed to facilitate this cooperation. Neither sector should be seen as a substitute for the other; rather, they should be recognized as having complementary roles.) The NACA Position on Informal Caregiving: Support and Enhancement. (1990)

Caregivers of Alzheimer's Patients

That special attention should be given to the caregivers of those suffering from Alzheimer's disease, to provide counselling on the evolution of the disease, as well as on the adaptations and the financial and legal planning that may become necessary as the disease progresses. Understanding Seniors Independence: The Barriers and Suggestions for Action, Report #1. (1989)

Training of Senior Care Receiver

That family caregivers be helped, when necessary, to recognize the abilities of the senior to profit from training for independent living skills. Understanding Seniors Independence: The Barriers and Suggestions for Action, Report #1. (1989)

Support for Caregivers

That the spouses and cohabitants of those in long-term and terminal care facilities be targeted to assess their needs and to offer counselling and other services, including peer support and peer counselling programs, as required. Understanding Seniors Independence: The Barriers and Suggestions for Action, Report #1. (1989)

That concrete assistance be offered to caregivers, as required, to ease the burden of caregiving and to help them continue their caregiving efforts. Understanding Seniors Independence: The Barriers and Suggestions for Action, Report #1. (1989)

That the limits in the capacities of older seniors to provide care to their spouses be recognized and that they be offered adequate support through respite care, day care centres, multi-purpose senior centres and other home support services. The NACA Position on Canada's Oldest Seniors: Maintaining the Quality of their Lives. (1992)

Training of Family Caregivers

That counselling services and independent living skills training be provided to the caregivers of seniors suffering from physical or mental disabilities to help them cope more effectively with the activities of daily living. Understanding Seniors Independence: The Barriers and Suggestions for Action, Report #1. (1989)

That information and counselling should be provided to informal caregivers concerning the role of the formal service sector, the availability and limits of its services and the means of accessing them. The NACA Position on Informal Caregiving: Support and Enhancement. (1990)

Establishing Standards

That the essential skills, knowledge and attitudes of professionals and staff working with the elderly be identified and these standards be recorded for use in pre-employment interviews and in-service evaluations. Priorities for Action (1981)

Courses for Non-professionals

That courses be designed for non-professionals who work with and care for the elderly. (Such courses should include basic knowledge about aging, practical information and training in the skills required, including communication. The course should be designed in consultation with up-to-date, competent people in the fields. Priorities for Action (1981)