Providing evidence and data-based solutions to inform system-wide change
In 2022, under the recently combined VHA Research & Innovation portfolio, VHA continued to prioritize our investment in home care science. The work of this dynamic team focused on key areas of home and community care to help clients remain independent at home, promote safe and rewarding work conditions for our providers and support the goal of integrated care across sectors.
A highlight of this work was the groundbreaking research led by health economist and VHA researcher Dr. Katherine Zagrodney, in a unique partnership with the Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA). Due to funding differences between sectors, Personal Support Workers (PSWs) are paid, on average, $5 less than their colleagues in long-term care. This analysis quantified the financial impact of raising home care worker wages to retain skilled providers and meet growing demand.
“In addition to providing improved access to care at home, where most older adults prefer to be, our research shows that increased wages to reduce turnover and expand home care capacity would create substantial total healthcare system savings,” said Dr. Zagrodney. “Even with PSW wage parity, home and community care would continue to be the least expensive place to receive care—costing half as much as long-term care homes and one seventh as much as hospital care.”
This analysis will inform OCSA’s advocacy for wage parity between home and long-term care and help to influence other investment and policy decisions within our sector. VHA’s Research & Innovation Team will continue to prioritize evidence and data-based solutions that reflect the voices of our clients, caregivers and providers and align with our vision of home care.
To learn more about Research and Innovation at VHA, please see our 2022 Report.
Research and Innovation Report 2022Download PDF
“Our multi-disciplinary team of experts are working towards a common goal of advancing and driving change and making impactful improvements to clinical outcomes, client and provider safety and innovative models in integrated care.”