Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
Ontario Investing $44 Million in Home and Community Care
Ontario is helping more seniors maintain their strength and recover from illness or injury so they can continue to live more independently.
The province is investing more than $40 million over four years to help seniors with complex medical conditions who have experienced a recent loss of strength or mobility.
The investment will enhance rehabilitative services and programs including:
- Comprehensive risk assessment programs in the community
- Hospital day programs and outpatient and community clinic services
- Access to short-stay hospital rehabilitation programs
- Supports for seniors in their home and community after a stay in hospital
These services will help frail seniors who are at a high risk of losing their ability to live on their own as a result of an injury or prolonged hospital stay. The increased supports will help them regain the physical strength and conditioning necessary to return home and live independently.
This investment will help support families and caregivers, help seniors avoid emergency department visits, and reduce the need for hospital admissions or placement in long-term care homes.
Ontario is also investing more than $4.2 million to expand access to physiotherapy services across the province in 25 family health teams, nurse practitioner-led clinics and community health centres.
An estimated 71,000 people including seniors will now be able to access physiotherapy at the same place where they receive primary health care services.
Improving health outcomes for seniors is also part of the government's plan to build a better Ontario through its Patients First: Action Plan for Health Care, which 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.
Quick Facts:
- About 150,000 individuals, or about eight per cent of all seniors living in the community, have multiple chronic conditions or complex care needs that may lead to hospital stays.
- For frail seniors, extended bed rest during a hospital stay can cause more serious and rapid loss of muscle strength and flexibility than in younger people.
- Ontario is investing $156 million annually to support enhanced access to physiotherapy, and exercise and falls prevention services to more than 200,000 additional seniors and eligible patients.
Additional Resources:
Quotes:
"Providing seniors with more support to recover after an injury or being in hospital will allow them to return home and stay out of the hospital. This investment is another way Ontario is taking action to improve health outcomes for seniors, helping them to lead healthy, independent lives for as long as possible."
— Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care
"Helping seniors regain their strength and mobility after an illness or an injury means we’re helping them enjoy a higher quality of life. This investment is yet another example of what we set out to achieve through Ontario’s Action Plan for Seniors, it means we are helping more seniors remain independent and active for as long as possible."
— Mario Sergio, Minister Responsible for Seniors Affairs
Media Contacts:
David Jensen
Communications and Marketing Division
416-314-6197
media.moh@ontario.ca
For public inquiries call ServiceOntario, INFOline
(Toll-free in Ontario only)
1-866-532-3161
Media Line
Toll-free: 1-888-414-4774
GTA: 416-314-6197
media.moh@ontario.ca
Shae Greenfield
Minister’s Office
416-325-5230
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