The near-$300,000 in funding will allow residents with complex medical needs receive appropriate care where they live, instead of at a hospital. Pictured left to right are Minister of Long-Term Care Paul Calandra, Mayor of Grimsby Jeff Jordan, and Niagara West MPP Sam Oosterhoff. Photo credit: Twitter/Sam Oosterhoff
Speaking at Deer Park Villa long-term care home in Grimsby Wednesday, representatives from the Ontario government announced $294,513 in funding for 19 projects across Niagara to help seniors with complex medical needs connect to specialized care and supports in their long-term care home.
The funding will help seniors with conditions such as dementia or who have bariatric care needs receive appropriate treatment without having to go to a hospital.
“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 Minister of Long-Term Care Paul Calandra. “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.”
The near-$300,000 announced in Niagara this week is part of a $20 million investment in 189 projects provincewide this year through a new Local Priorities Fund operated by Ontario Health.
“Wednesday’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 MPP for Niagara West Sam Oosterhoff.
“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.”
The projects in the Niagara Region 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).
Through a $6.4 billion investment, the province is adding nearly 60,000 new and upgraded long-term care 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 in a hospital.
The province has also committed $4.9 billion 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.
