Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform the House and all Canadians that October 12-18 is National Community Care Worker Week.
The health care professionals, para-professionals and volunteers who provide care in the community are an integral part of our health care system.
Community care workers represent many groups and disciplines and carry out various functions. These include: nurses, social workers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, homemakers, home support workers and volunteers. These are the vital front line workers who provide home based care, facility based long term care, meal programs and community support programs.
As the delivery of many health care services shifts from the hospitals to the community, community care workers are increasingly called upon to assist in the transition and ensure a continuity of client centred care.
To honour these front line workers and acknowledge the invaluable contribution they make to the health care of Canadians, the Canadian Association for Community Care has initiated the community care worker award, which is presented to the winner in the community every year during community care worker week.