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Home & Institutional Long Term Care Costs Compared

Wed, 05/17/2000 - 12:00am — Karen Stevenson
Description: 

Results of the Canadian Home Care Study are available from the National Association for Home Care (NAHC). This study, "The Comparative Cost Analysis of Home Care and Residential Care Services," examined the utilization and cost of services provided to people who received care at home as compared to those who received care in a residential setting. The results were stratified by the level of care needed to try to make comparisons more meaningful.

Overall, costs for community-based care averaged $8,900 a year, while residential care averaged $30,000 a year. The difference in costs varied with the level of care needed, so that home care represented about 40% of residential care costs for those with lower care needs, but 75% of residential care costs for those with more acute needs. The cost of home care as compared to residential care is highest for clients whose needs are changing, and for clients who die while under care.

Partially in response to this study, Canadian Health Minister Allan Rock proposed an expanded national home care program in a letter to officials in the nation's 10 provinces.

Results of the Canadian Home Care Study are available from the National Association for Home Care (NAHC). This study, "The Comparative Cost Analysis of Home Care and Residential Care Services," examined the utilization and cost of services provided to people who received care at home as compared to those who received care in a residential setting. The results were stratified by the level of care needed to try to make comparisons more meaningful.

Overall, costs for community-based care averaged $8,900 a year, while residential care averaged $30,000 a year. The difference in costs varied with the level of care needed, so that home care represented about 40% of residential care costs for those with lower care needs, but 75% of residential care costs for those with more acute needs. The cost of home care as compared to residential care is highest for clients whose needs are changing, and for clients who die while under care.

Partially in response to this study, Canadian Health Minister Allan Rock proposed an expanded national home care program in a letter to officials in the nation's 10 provinces.