Thank you, Mr. Chair, and good afternoon, everyone. Bon après-midi. I would like to thank the members of this committee for the invitation to be here today to discuss the veterans independence program. I welcome this opportunity to provide you with an overview of this outstanding program and to share a brief history of how it evolved and a few lessons my department has learned as a result of providing for the health and home care needs of Canada's senior veterans.
One of our most successful and popular programs, the Veterans Independence Program, has been made available to more and more clients since its inception.
When the program was first introduced in 1981 as the aging veterans program, its sole focus was to help veterans remain independent in their own homes for long enough that long-term care facilities became available. VIP has since become the model for programs both in Canada and throughout the world. It was designed to help senior citizens live independent lives in their homes and their communities until long-term care becomes an absolute necessity. Its goal is achieving nothing less than healthy living within the community through such assistance as housekeeping, groundskeeping, and transportation, an emphasis that was all but unique in North America in 1981 when the program began.
It is modelled on a graduated health care approach that emphasizes early assistance to prevent clients from becoming unduly dependent on the long-term health care system, allowing them to live with dignity, security and comfort in their own homes for as long as possible.
In addition, if any veteran client or primary caregiver feels they have a need that is not being met and for which they feel they should be eligible, we work directly with them to assist in arranging the additional care they require.
In total, approximately 97,000 Canadian veterans and primary caregivers receive VIP services today, at an approximate cost of $270 million, a fraction of the costs for providing the same number of clients with bed and long-term care facilities.
Currently we have 10,600 veterans in long-term care across the country. More importantly, it has allowed those Canadians who access VIP to remain in their homes, not only helping to maintain their independence but ensuring a high quality of life in their later years.
With your concurrence, I would like to review the slide deck that has been provided for your reference. My colleague, Mr. Ken Miller, director of program policy, and I would be pleased to answer any questions you may have on the subject.
If you're fine with that, Mr. Chair, I'll proceed with the slide presentation.