Our Community Health Role in a Changing World

Caring for the health of Canadians has always been an important focus for the Canadian Red Cross. In fact, its history in health goes back to the very roots of the Red Cross in Canada with the establishment of outpost hospitals in the early 1900s. As our society has changed through the decades, one of the greatest strengths of the Red Cross has been its ability to adapt to the ever-changing needs of the communities it serves.

Currently, seniors make up the fastest-growing age group in Canada. With this trend expected to continue over the next several decades, the Red Cross is always exploring ways to meet the increasing need for health care in the community setting. 

In 2012, the Red Cross made the decision to merge a portion of its  personal support services in Ontario with CarePartners - a nursing and rehabilitation services organization, to form Red Cross Care Partners (RCCP). The creation of RCCP was an innovative concept that served the clients of both organizations and was the best model at the time in terms of providing a complete and integrated basket of services.

In July 2014, the Canadian Red Cross and CarePartners both determined that moving forward with one owner was in the best interest of the company. After careful consideration it was determined that RCCP would transition to sole ownership by CarePartners, and going forward, would operate under the name CarePartners. 

For the Canadian Red Cross, this transition of a portion of personal support services in Ontario in no way diminishes our focus on community health and wellness. In fact, the strategic priorities for the Red Cross involve focusing resources on opportunities where we can play a unique role and meet the greatest needs in our communities, particularly by leveraging our strong network of volunteers. The Red Cross will continue to support Ontarians aging at home through community support services including transportation, nutrition programs and personal support services, as well as investing in innovative solutions and partnerships to increase the overall health and safety of some of our most vulnerable residents.

The support we provide to seniors and vulnerable people enables them to live independently and with dignity in their communities. The path ahead will involve identifying additional opportunities where we can leverage our expertise, our community presence and our network of volunteers to play a leading role in the future of community-based health care.
 
We remain committed to working with governments, LHINs, CCACs, other service providers and health care stakeholders to strengthen and improve access to health care where people prefer to receive it – in their own homes and communities.