Photo By Claire McCormack
Over $7.2 million is being doled out to local long-term care homes in the region for more staff.
The funding was announced by Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Bill Walker and comes as part of the plan to fix long-term care by the Ontario government. The province is providing up to $673 million this year to long-term care homes across Ontario to increase staffing levels and result in more direct care for residents.
The long-term care homes receiving the funds include:
-Over $872,000 for Gateway Haven Home for the Aged in Wiarton
-Over $575,000 for Grey Gables Home for Aged in Markdale
-Over $1.3 million for Lee Manor in Owen Sound
-Over $872,000 for Rockwood Terrace in Durham
-Over $270,000 for Parkview Manor in Chesley
-Over $235,000 for Country Lane Long Term Care Residence in Chatsworth
-Over $462,000 for The Village Seniors Community in Hanover
-Over $549,000 for Meaford Long Term Care
-Over $863,000 for Versa Care Centre, Summit Place in Owen Sound
-Over $261,000 for Georgian Heights in Owen Sound
-Over $200,000 for Mapleview in Owen Sound
-Over $305,000 for Golden Dawn Senior Citizen Home in Lion’s Head
-Over $183,000 for Elgin Abbey Nursing Home in Chesley
-Over $279,000 for Hanover Care Centre
Walker says this funding will allow homes in the community to hire and retain more staff so they can provide more care to residents every day.
“This is part of our government’s plan to hire thousands of new staff over the next four years to ensure those living in long-term care get the high-quality care they need and deserve,” says Walker.
Seniors entering long-term care today are older and have complex medical needs compared to a decade ago, according to a release from Walker.
The level of care residents need has also increased, however, the amount of care they receive each day has not, says the release.
Between 2009 and 2018, the amount of care each resident has received, by all providers per day, increased by only 22 minutes, according to the release. The government is seeking, over a span of four years, to increase direct hours of care by one hour and 21 minutes.
To achieve this, the provincial government is investing $4.9 billion over four years to boost direct resident care to an average of four hours daily by increasing care staff by more than 27,000 people.
In 2021-22, the government will be investing $270 million, $673 million in 2022-23, $1.25 billion in 2023-24, and $1.82 billion in 2024-25.
Minister of Long-Term Care Paul Calandra says they know that more qualified staff means more daily care for residents.
“Hiring more staff is part of our government’s plan to fix long-term care and to improve the quality of care residents receive and the quality of life they experience,” says Calandra.