1 Canadian Working Group on HIV and Rehabilitation (CWGHR) Improving Equitable Access to Rehabilitation Canadian Home Care Association Summit October 25, 2012

2 Overview Objectives Background (CWGHR and access to rehabilitation) Rehabilitation and Home Care How can we increase access to rehabilitation? Moving forward – working together Evaluation

3 Objectives of this session Increase collective understanding of trends in access to rehabilitation and links with home care Increase our ability to address policy and program challenges and utilize opportunities for improving rehabilitation and home care services for people with chronic conditions

4 Canadian Working Group on HIV and Rehabilitation (CWGHR) National, multi-sector and interdisciplinary not for profit organization formed in 1998 Addresses disability and rehabilitation issues in the context of HIV and other lifelong and episodic health conditions Centred on the needs of people living with HIV and other chronic and episodic conditions Integrated approach – research, education, policy and practice – importance of partnerships

5 CWGHR (cont’d) Increasing equitable access to rehabilitation is a priority for CWGHR –Holding round table discussions –Meeting with policy makers –Sharing examples of nnovative programs integrating rehabilitation

6 What do we mean by rehabilitation? An activity or process that: Promotes improved health and quality of life e.g. improving mobility, increased energy, improving mental health, sexual health, access to income security, employment opportunities; community participation Helps to manage, reduce or prevent health and life related problems of a specific condition e.g. managing or eliminating pain, conserving energy, lessening fatigue, reducing barriers to employment; preventing other health conditions or emergencies (e.g. heart attack, broken bones, diabetes, depression, anxiety, dementia)

7 Increasing Access to Rehabilitation Why? In general - a crucial issue in health care reform –Aging population, people living longer –Increasing incidence and impact of chronic conditions –Potential of rehabilitation not being recognized or realized –Decreasing and inequitable access adversely affects more people –Some access barriers specific to HIV; many others - similar to people with other chronic / ‘episodic’ disabilities (including HIV related co-morbidities)

1 8 Increasing Access to Rehabilitation A multi-pronged approach 1. Education teaching people (care providers and patients/clients) about the role, benefits and opportunities of rehabilitation 2. Research E.g. how people currently use rehabilitation, health benefits and economic savings of increased access, policy barriers and facilitators

9 Increasing access to rehabilitation 3. Policy change trends in health care, privatization / de-listing of services, integrated care continuum, eligibility criteria, access to rehabilitation through home care, chronic disease prevention and management, rural vs urban, etc. 4. Integrated Programs Integrating rehabilitation into front line programs– community health centres and clinics, other publicly funded models, home care

10 Increasing access to rehabilitation 2012 Discussion Paper: Equitable Access to Rehabilitation – building the network - many partners working with us - consultations, discussion groups, meetings with policy makers, health care providers, people with HIV and other chronic and episodic conditions

11 Tell us your stories and ideas What are the main trends related to access you’ve seen in your work How has this affected your work? Best practices – examples in policy and programming What we’ve heard so far –The good, the bad and the ugly…..

12 Moving forward – working together Other current initiatives/ campaigns? Priorities for moving forward What we can / will do Building the conversation and the network Strategies to reach others. To help coordinate, host or participate in a consultation session – let us know. Staying connected and involved

13 For more information…. Canadian Working Group on HIV and Rehabilitation (CWGHR) –0440