OTTAWA — The Ontario government is investing $2,103,000 in four projects in Ottawa 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 provincewide through a new Local Priorities Fund operated by Ontario Health.
“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 John Jordan, Parliamentary Assistant to the 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.”
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 an emergency room or be admitted to hospital. Others will support the admission of people into long-term care homes who no longer require acute care in hospital, but who have complex needs that are difficult to accommodate without specialized services and supports.
The projects in Ottawa that are receiving funding are:
- $174,300 to Perley Health long-term care home for bariatric equipment, specialized equipment and training for wound care, and renovation costs to convert an existing unit to a secure unit to support the needs of residents with dementia;
- $1,700,000 to Royal Ottawa Place for the continued operation of this long-term care home, which specializes in care for residents with complex responsive behaviours, complex cognitive challenges, and chronic mental illness;
- $183,758 to Royal Ottawa Place long-term care home for specialized bariatric equipment, diagnostic equipment, and an enteral feeding pump; and
- $45,266 to West End Villa for a specialized model of care in partnership with the Ottawa Hospital that meets the complex medical care needs of residents.
Earlier today, we announced a $2M+ investment in four Ottawa LTC homes, as part of our Local Priorities Fund. Read more below:
https://t.co/kwAlDAuDkg pic.twitter.com/GLrsiNsPB3
— John Jordan (@johnjordan_lfk) March 15, 2023
The Local Priorities Fund is part of an investment of over $120 million in 2022-23 to provide access to a range of specialized services and supports that are helping long-term care residents 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 up to $20 million for the Ontario Health Local Priorities Fund referenced in today’s announcement, $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 also 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.
Quotes
“Long-term care residents have been clear: they need care in the comfort of a home rather than a hospital. Our government is getting it done for long-term care residents in Ottawa by making investments to ensure that they can access specialized services and supports in a comfortable environment.”
– Goldie Ghamari
MPP for Carleton
“I want to thank the Ontario Ministry of Long-Term Care for its continued support throughout the pandemic, and assistance as we work to adapt and reopen services closed in 2020. With today’s announcement, we will be able to provide enhanced training in wound care to benefit all residents and open a new secure unit for veterans living with dementia. These and other improvements enhance the quality of life and safety of residents.”
– Margaret Tansey
Chair of the Board of Directors of Perley Health
SOURCE Province of Ontario
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