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Home First

What is Home First?

It’s an approach that helps hospital patients to continue their recovery safely at home while receiving enhanced home-care services for up to 60 days. These patients are often frail seniors who have completed their acute-care treatment. It’s an approach that helps hospital patients to continue their recovery safely at home while receiving enhanced home-care services for up to 60 days. These patients are often frail seniors who have completed their acute-care treatment.

Who organizes the Home First Program?

The Home First program is coordinated by Community Care Access Centres (CCACs) and is being rolled out in all 14 Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs) across Ontario. Between July 2010 and March 2011, the Home First program was launched by the Champlain CCAC in all acute-care hospitals of the Champlain region. The Champlain CCAC is funded by the Champlain Local Health Integration Network, an agency of the provincial government.

 
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Home First

What services are offered?

Services can include intensive case management, nursing, personal support, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, social work, dietetics, equipment and supplies.

What are the main benefits for clients and families?

  • Clients can recuperate in a familiar environment, reducing the risk of losing strength from lack of mobility while remaining in hospital.
  • There is no cost for eligible services provided through the CCAC. 
  • Seniors have more time to improve their health status prior to making a major decision about their future care needs.

What are the main benefits for the health system?

  • The Home First program, by helping people get better at home, relieves pressures on hospitals. For example, more beds are made available for patients who require surgery. 
  • Preventing premature admission to long-term care homes results in greater access to these beds for individuals who require a more intensive level of care. 
  • When appropriately managed, care in the home can moderate the demand for more costly health-care options while maintaining a person’s independence.