The questions on home care were refocused and refined over time in order to better follow trends in important issues and clarify key points.
In 2000, public respondents were asked whether they volunteer their time to provide health care services to a relative, neighbour or friend on a regular basis; 29% said "yes." From 2001 to 2003, and again in 2005, members of the public were asked if they had volunteered time or financial support for health care services or other support for an ill relative or friend in the last year. More than a third said "yes" in 2001 and 2002, but only 21% said "yes" in 2003 and 2005. In 2006 and 2007, respondents were asked whether they "personally had to care for a family member or friend with a serious health problem in the past 12 months." Approximately one quarter of respondents said "yes" to this. View the full data table. View graphs.
In 2006 and 2007, respondents were also asked whether, when caring for this person, they had to use personal savings, take time off work or quit work, or access other benefits. Both years, 41% said they had had to "use personal savings to survive during this time" and 22% said they had to "take one or more months off work." Fewer respondents said they had to quit work or access benefits. View the full data table. View graphs.
From 2005 to 2007, the public was asked to rate, on a scale of 1 to 10, its agreement with initiatives to improve the health system, including developing more home and community care programs; 46% of respondents showed strong support for this initiative, and in total 84% to 88% supported it. Strongest support was shown for home and community care programs (46%), followed by support for non-physician health providers and electronic patient records. View the full data table. View graphs.