Ontario’s Ford Government Connecting Long-Term Care Residents in Niagara to Specialized Care and Supports

Investment Providing Supports in Long-Term Care Homes Across Niagara Region

A News Release from the Constituency Office of Niagara West Conservative MPP Sam Oosterhoff

Posted March 15^th, 2023 on Niagara At Large

GRIMSBY – The Ontario government is investing $294,513 in nineteen projects across Niagara to help seniors with complex medical needs like dementia and bariatric care connect to specialized care and supports in their long-term care home instead of a hospital.

This is part of a $20 million investment this year in 189 projects province wide through a new Local Priorities Fund operated by Ontario Health.

The funding was announced today at Deer Park Villa in Grimsby, a local long-term care home administered by the Regional Municipality of Niagara.

“Today’s announcement in Grimsby highlights our government’s commitment to fix Ontario’s long-term care system and ensure seniors in Niagara get the quality of care and quality of life they need and deserve,” said Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West.

“The regional projects funded through the Local Priorities Fund will better accommodate residents in Niagara with complex needs and help fulfill our government’s goal of connecting seniors to care when they need it and where they need it.”

“Our government is increasing our investment in bold, creative and innovative solutions that conveniently connect long-term care residents to the specialized care they need in the comfort of their long-term care home, instead of a hospital,” said Hon. Paul Calandra, Minister of Long-Term Care.

“Initiatives like the Local Priorities Fund ensure Ontarians are being connected with the right care in the right place, close to their family and friends.”

“On behalf of the Regional Council, I want to share our appreciation for the investment that the Ontario government is announcing for our long-term care homes today,” said Jim Bradley, Chair of the Regional Municipality of Niagara.

“The diagnostic equipment that will be purchased with these funds will be utilized to improve the care and quality of life of our residents.”

Some of the local projects will do this by helping residents get the specialized care they need in their long-term care home without having to go to the emergency room or be admitted to hospital.  Others will support the admission into homes of people who no longer require acute care in hospital, but who have complex needs that can be difficult to accommodate without specialized services and supports.

The projects across Niagara that are receiving funding include:

  *   $47,840 to Heidehof Long-Term Care Home in St Catharines, for diagnostic equipment, bariatric equipment, 36 slings and 14 tumble mats;

  *   $17,200 to Heidehof Long-Term Care Home in St Catharines, for additional diagnostic equipment;

  *   $24,889 to Foyer Richelieu Welland, for diagnostic equipment, an infusion pump and stand, a suction machine, and specialized dementia training;

  *   $19,421 to Royal Rose Place in Welland for diagnostic equipment;

  *   $17,642 to Albright Manor in Beamsville, for diagnostic equipment;

  *   $17,306 to Shalom Manor in Grimsby, for diagnostic equipment;

  *   $17,141 for diagnostic equipment to each of five (5) long-term care homes: Crescent Park Lodge (Fort Erie), Maple Park Lodge (Fort Erie), Millennium Trail Manor (Niagara Falls), Oakwood Park Lodge (Niagara Falls), Valley Park Lodge (Niagara Falls);

  *   $15,500 to Linhaven, in St. Catharines, for diagnostic equipment; and,

  *   $7,000 for diagnostic equipment to each of seven (7) long-term care homes: Albright Manor (Beamsville), Gilmore Lodge (Fort Erie), Deer Park Villa (Grimsby), The Meadows of Dorchester (Niagara Falls), Upper Canada Lodge (Niagara-on-the-Lake), D.H. Rapelje Lodge (Welland), and The Woodlands of Sunset (Welland).

The Local Priorities Fund is part of an investment of over $120 million in 2022-23 to provide access to a range of long-term care-focused specialized services and supports that are helping people with complex needs access connected and convenient care in the right place.

The government is fixing long-term care to ensure Ontario’s seniors get the quality of care and quality of life they need and deserve both now and in the future.  This work is built on four pillars: staffing and care; quality and enforcement; building modern, safe and comfortable homes; and providing seniors with faster, more convenient access to the services they need.

Quick Facts

  *   Ontario’s over $120 million investment in specialized services and supports in 2022-23 includes the up to $20 million for the Ontario Health Local Priorities Fund announced today, $5.91 million for four new Behavioural Specialized Units in long-term care homes, an additional $5 million for Behavioural Supports Ontario, $2.6 million for Baycrest’s Virtual Behaviour Medicine program, and $4.5 million to build dedicated spaces for health care at a new seniors’ housing complex in Kenora.

  *   Through a $6.4 billion investment, the province is adding nearly 60,000 new and upgraded long-term care beds and increasing the amount of care residents receive so seniors can live with dignity.  This will increase the number of available beds to help address wait lists for long-term care and ensure seniors are being cared for in the right place, where they can connect to more supports and recreational and social activities that may not be available if they are being cared for in a hospital while waiting to move into a long-term care home.

  *   The province has also made a $4.9 billion commitment over four years to increase the average daily direct care time provided by nurses and personal support workers to four hours per resident by March 31, 2025.  This also includes increasing the system average direct care provided by allied health professionals to 36 minutes per resident, per day by March 31, 2023.  As part of this commitment, the Ontario government is providing $673 million to long-term care homes in 2022-23 to hire and retain thousands of long-term care staff across the province.

Additional Resources – Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care<https://www.ontario.ca/page/your-health-plan-connected-and-convenient-care>

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