Health News For South West


Friday, June 20, 2008
South West Local Health Integration Network
Landmark Provincial Aging At Home Strategy

LONDON, ON - Standing in front of a new Dodge Caravan that will provide area seniors with rides to appointments, Khalil Ramal, MPP London-Fanshawe, today announced a series of local Aging at Home initiatives which are receiving $6 million this year.

More than 250 new programs – funded with $76 million this year – and a total of 100 vans providing 135,000 rides to appointments across Ontario are part of the province’s landmark Aging at Home Strategy, a $1.1 billion initiative to help seniors live healthy, independent lives in the comfort and dignity of their own homes.

Aging at Home is part of the Ontario government’s broader strategy to reduce wait times in emergency rooms. Offering better community supports to our seniors allows them to stay in their homes longer and reduces pressures on Ontario’s ERs.

South West LHIN will be implementing 25 programs this year with $6 million in provincial funding – initiatives ranging from wellness education programs to offering seniors transportation and assistance to safely settle back home following a hospitalization. Many of the Aging at Home proposals that were submitted to the South West LHIN were focused on improving transportation services for seniors. The provincial vans announced today provide an opportunity to further strengthen local programs. – designed to provide senior-centered accessible care in the community. These initiatives emphasize a mix of community-based services in the following areas:
  • Caregiver support and education
  • Supportive housing
  • Transportation and meals
  • Physical activity
  • Wellness and preventive care
  • Reducing isolation
For example, the Safe at Home program to be offered by the South West Community Care Access Centre will assist frail seniors through visits from a nurse practitioner and additional nursing and personal support visits to review medications, ensure the caregiver is coping and to provide the medical and personal assistance to keep them safe and living independently in their home.
The Community Stroke Rehabilitation program collaboratively offered by St Joseph’s Health Care, Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance and Grey Bruce Health Services will provide a team of rehabilitation specialists to assist individuals who have had a stroke to make further gains in their recovery after leaving the hospital so that they can continue to live independently.

These are but two examples of the innovative programs that are supported in the South West LHIN through funding under the Aging at Home Strategy.

QUOTES

“We have worked diligently with our community partners to develop innovative health care services for seniors,” said Tony Woolgar, Chief Executive Office, South West LHIN. “A lack of adequate transportation services presents a serious challenge to the delivery of health care for many people. The new van fleet will provide reliable and vital transportation for Ontario seniors and allow our residents to receive the care they need where and when they want it.”

"With these new vans, our seniors will have easier access to the health and social services they need," said Khalil Ramal, MPP London-Fanshawe. "By delivering on stronger community programs for seniors, we will not only help them to age with dignity and independence at home, but also ease pressures on our hospitals, especially in emergency rooms."

QUICK FACTS

  • The new van fleet will provide 135,000 rides for seniors across Ontario to and from medical appointments this year.
  • The nine vans in the South West LHIN are expected to provide 12,492 rides that will improve access to health care for seniors.
  • Ontario’s Aging at Home Strategy is a four-year $1.1 Billion initiative launched in 2007.
LEARN MORE

Ontario’s Aging at Home Strategy

New Aging At Home Strategy Initiatives for Seniors In South West LHIN

South West LHIN Announces New Health Care Transportation Services For Seniors

For more information contact:

Annabelle Mackey
519 672-0445, ext. 2573
annabelle.mackey@lhins.on.ca

Toll-free: 1 866 294-5446
www.southwestlhin.on.ca

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