June 1, 2021 - Calgary Herald

Corbella: Improving the quality of life of our seniors in care is at the centre of new strategy

By: Licia Corbella

Dr. Samir Sinha — NIA Director of Health Policy Research and the Director of Geriatrics at Sinai Health System — says whenever he has a chance to speak to policy makers, he reminds them that helping the elderly live longer in their homes by providing home care is the only time government can give people what they want and spend less money.

Sinha says home care is the least costly form of continuing care out there. Sinha says that at any given time, about 15 per cent of hospitalized Canadians are elderly people designated as “alternate level of care” or patients who should be in a nursing home or in their own home with more supports.