Transformative Outcomes

Transformative outcomes. I believe we all strive to achieve them. However, I have witnessed, time and time again, how our offering of services systems fall short.

I believe it’s because we are convinced that steps towards transformation are steps in the right direction. And we settle for the gains we’ve been convinced we could get. When I was in government, and even as a Minister, I would be given encouragement and sympathetic rhetoric for ambitious objectives. Then it would be explained to me how we couldn’t do it. In hindsight now, I am sorry I tried to be understanding and collaborative. Because in that hindsight I don’t believe it was either.

There are many subjects I could talk about; senior care, disability, child protection, primary care….the list goes on. But I will choose to begin with an aspect of Senior Care, since it’s a topic these days; specifically patient discharge from hospital. There is one caveat. This thought process can actually apply to ANY patient discharge process. And we need bold, fearless adoption to show the urgency is understood.

Every assessment should begin with one simple, powerful question: “How do we get you safely back home?” I can already hear the response, “That’s what we do”. But it’s not. Too often assessments come far too late for thoughtful planning. Recommendations are made without exploring alternatives and the results are predictable. The ALC (Alternative Level of Care) crisis keeps repeating itself because our systems refuse to change their approach.

I am also going to be so bold to say that assessments are not always as fair as they could be. Many seniors are assessed after just waking up. Many do not have a family member present for the assessment to offer perspective. Many are still not fully rehabilitated from an illness, injury or surgery. But all of those things impact responses.

 If hospitals want to free up hospital beds, then the professionals’ doing assessments need to go further to understand what barriers keep individuals from going home. But the stories I am hearing time and time again, are telling me “they have been discharged to nursing home care”.

While I am not a medical expert or a social worker, I lead two distinct departments that have shown me the many areas of service provided to our population. In some other Canadian provinces, these are within the same department.

I come from a big family. I have cared for a terminally ill child. I currently care for a senior with a disability and a chronic back injury. I also, throughout my life, have experienced caring for several family members who have been injured and/or at end-of-life. I have not experienced that the majority need 24/7 hours of care. Some absolutely do. But options for those that want them are not forthcoming.

There are many approaches and individualized models of supports that offer autonomy and independence. It is not always disability, medical needs, early signs of dementia or family situations that prevent homecomings. Any one or all of these could be. But it’s also very possible that any or all of these can be overcome with the right supports put in place.

Are we all so stuck on being the ones to make the determination that we lose sight of potential?

What if those medical and social service professionals could have a resource to help them ensure every option is on the table for everyone? I have to say that at this point, I really don’t care what the answer to those questions are. What I do care about is if we can all agree that when “HOME” can be a viable option, do we want to get there?” We are not giving the satisfaction to our front-line workers they deserve because there ARE resources that can help provide those options.

There are many respected advocates that have spoken on this. Kelly Lamrock, Ken McGeorge, Haley Flaro, just to name a few. Everyone is saying the same thing. We need to implement innovation at every opportunity, and we need to make every opportunity to innovate.

A new system can happen if the will is there. We are doing a disservice to our families if we don’t demand it.