Poverty

Awareness of Resources for Patients and Families

  • Ensure that you and your team are knowledgeable about the various resources available to patients and their families.

  • Key resources include:

    • Canada Benefits: A government program to help identify and access financial supports.

    • 2-1-1: A service to find community support organizations based on need and location.

Screening for Poverty's Impact on Health

  • Poverty as a Risk Factor:

    • Poverty significantly influences health outcomes and should always be screened for in patients.

      • Example 1: Consider ordering a diabetes screening test for an otherwise healthy individual if they live in poverty.

      • Example 2: For a low-risk patient with chest pain living in poverty, there may be a higher risk of cardiac issues, prompting more aggressive investigation.

Health Conditions Associated with Poverty

  • Individuals in poverty are at a higher risk for:

    • Chronic Diseases: Diabetes, Cancer, Hypertension, COPD, Asthma, and multiple chronic conditions.

      • Diabetes prevalence in the lowest income quintile (11.1%) is significantly higher than in the highest quintile (3.4%).

    • Mental Health: Depression rates are 58% higher for those living below the poverty line compared to the national average.

    • Cancer Risks: Higher rates of lung and cervical cancers in low-income groups (OR 2.41 and RR 2.08, respectively).

    • Children's Health: Children from low-income backgrounds face greater health risks later in life.

Direct Actions: Asking and Intervening

  • Ask Patients:

    • Conduct screenings to identify their living conditions, employment, and social supports.

    • Example Questions:

      • "Have you filled out and filed your tax forms?"

    • Connect Patients:

      • Direct them to Community Tax Clinics which aid in accessing benefits linked to tax filings.

    • Drug Coverage Requirements:

      • Patients must have up-to-date tax filings and a Health Card to access drug coverage.

Supporting Vulnerable Populations

  • High-Risk Groups: New immigrants, women, Indigenous peoples, and LGBTQ+ individuals are more affected by poverty.

  • Tailor interventions to these groups and explore resources available to them as well.

Income Supports Available

  • Child Benefits:

    • Canada Child Benefit allows families to receive substantial annual benefits for children under 18.

  • Income Security Programs:

    • OAS and GIS for seniors 65+ living in poverty, providing a minimum of $1,200/month.

    • Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) for Indigenous individuals for drug and extended health coverage.

  • Additional Supplements:

    • Transportation, medical supplies, and special diets among others.

Major Disability Programs

  • Various supports for individuals with disabilities including:

    • CPP Disability, EI Sickness, Disability Tax Credit (DTC), and others.

    • DTC: Can provide substantial tax savings and eligibility for other benefits.

  • Documentation: Health providers must ensure accurate completion of necessary forms (e.g., Form T2201 for DTC).

Professional Responsibility

  • As healthcare providers, convey complete and precise information regarding patients' health statuses.

  • Avoid acting as gatekeepers for income security; empower patients to access the benefits they need.