NEWS RELEASE
MPP ANN HOGGARTH
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Ontario Investing an Additional $3,750,000 in Home and Community Care in North Simcoe and Muskoka
Province Increasing Access to Home Care for Those with High Needs
Ontario is investing approximately $3.75 million in North Simcoe Muskoka this year to enhance support for home care clients with high needs and their caregivers.
Province-wide this investment will help clients and caregivers most in need, including $80 million for enhanced home care and $20 million for caregiver respite. Home care patients and those who care for them will benefit from approximately:
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350,000 additional hours of nursing care
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1.3 million additional hours of personal support
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600,000 additional hours of respite services for caregivers
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100,000 additional hours of rehabilitation.
In the North Simcoe Muskoka Local Health Integration Network (NSM LHIN), the investment will include $2,999,200 to increase nursing, personal services, and other care for patients with the most complex care needs, and $749,800 to support caregivers. The NSM LHIN will work with the North Simcoe Muskoka Community Care Access Centre (NSM CCAC) to allocate this funding.
Helping more people access better health care faster and closer to home is part of the government's plan to build a better Ontario through its Patients First: Action Plan for Health Care. This plan is providing patients with faster access to the right care, better home and community care, the information they need to stay healthy and a health care system that’s sustainable for generations to come.
QUOTES
“Improving home and community care is one of our government’s most important health care priorities. This $100 million investment greatly expands the amount of nursing and personal support services that will be available to people across the province. These additional hours will make it possible for more people with complex conditions to receive care where they want to be – in their home and community.”
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Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care
“People in our region deserve a health care system that helps them live independently at home. It’s where they want to be, and, in many cases, it’s the best place for them to be. We are putting clients and caregivers first, and that will create a better health care system for everyone.”
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Ann Hoggarth, Barrie MPP
“This funding will improve patient care and help to ensure that North Simcoe Muskoka residents with complex care needs can continue to live at home and within their communities. We recognize that caregivers play an important role in a patient’s journey. Additional funding for nursing and personal services will provide caregivers with more resources to care for their loved ones and much needed time to look after themselves.”
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Jill Tettmann, Chief Executive Officer, North Simcoe Muskoka LHIN
“The NSM CCAC is pleased to receive additional funding to provide further support for patients receiving care in their home and their caregivers. With this funding, we will continue to provide quality home and community care to the residents of North Simcoe Muskoka.”
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Barry Monaghan, Transitional Chief Executive Officer, NSM CCAC
QUICK FACTS
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Home and community care services support people of all ages who require care in their home, at school or in the community.
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In 2015, Community Care Access Centres provided home care to approximately 650,000 people — 60 per cent of whom were seniors — including 28.7 million hours of personal support and homemaking, 6.9 million nursing visits and 2.1 million hours of nursing shifts.
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This investment will be allocated to support enhanced care for clients with high needs and respite for caregivers who need it the most.
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