The Manitoba government has announced that it is restructuring home-care delivery in Winnipeg following challenges with the centralized scheduling model implemented earlier this year.
“Home care is about dignity, independence and peace of mind for Manitobans and their families,” said Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Uzoma Asagwara. “We’ve heard clearly from clients and workers the system needed change and that’s what we’re delivering. By strengthening home care, we’re making sure people can rely on timely and consistent support at home, and workers have the respect and resources they need to provide it.”
The changes are based on feedback from staff to reduce cancellations, improve communication, and better support front-line workers and the home-care clients they serve so they receive better care. Since the fall of 2023, the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA) has hired more than 250 net new home-care aides and 32 scheduling clerks, allowing them to deliver more than 16,500 visits per day.
In response to a review of home-care services, earlier this year, the WRHA moved to a centralized model that changed scheduling and operations. The minister noted there were challenges with the rollout and a dedicated Manitoba Health team was brought in to address those challenges through consultation with front-line staff so patients see fewer cancellations and staff have more predictable work hours, the minister added.
Starting Oct. 1, shifts for scheduling clerks will be adjusted for predictability and coverage. Clerks will also return to being assigned a primary geographic area with dedicated teams. These changes will reduce cancellations and limit travel time for home-care aides, so they can spend more time with clients. Summer upgrades to scheduling systems and streamlining call systems has made it easier and faster for aides to pass along information about clients, while scheduling clerks can focus on filling shifts. These changes have started to make a difference for clients and early signs already show a decrease in cancellations, the minister said.
“Home care is such important work and these changes make it easier for us to do our jobs,” said Jefferson De Villa, a home-care aide working in Winnipeg. “Efficient scheduling, more communication and having more staff means our clients aren’t left waiting or worrying. That’s a big relief for families and for us too.”
Staffing up home care is key to a consistent, quality and reliable service for Manitobans, the minister said. A recent recruitment event for aides garnered 300 applicants, with training underway to support the development of a more sustainable workforce.
