Ontario Connecting Long-Term Care Residents in Kenora-Rainy River to Specialized Care and Supports

Investment Providing Supports in long-term care homes instead of hospitals

FORT FRANCES — The Ontario government is investing nearly $653,000 in 5 projects in Kenora–Rainy River to help seniors with complex medical needs like dementia and bariatric care connect to specialized care and supports in their long-term care home instead of a hospital. The funding comes from a new Local Priorities Fund operated by Ontario health and is part of a $20-million-dollar investment in 189 projects across Ontario.

“Our government is providing long-term care residents right here in Kenora-Rainy River with the specialized supports and services they need and deserve,” said Greg Rickford, Member of Provincial Parliament for Kenora-Rainy River. “Under the leadership of Premier Ford, we are taking action to improve our province’s long-term care system and putting the needs of Northwestern residents first.”

The projects in Kenora-Rainy River include:

  • $305,000.00 to Wiigwas Elder and Senior Care for equipment repair;
  • $185,321.00 to Riverside Health Care for bariatric and specialized equipment to improve patient and staff safety;
  • $90,736.00 to Wiigwas Elder and Senior Care for specialized equipment to support residents for longer periods in long-term care;
  • $58,200.00 to Kenora District Homes, Pinecrest to update the existing behaviour unit to provide residents with a meaningful quality of life; and
  • $13,411.25 to Rainycrest for the purchase of bariatric equipment.

“With the Government of Ontario’s ongoing efforts to increase direct hours of care in long-term care homes, Riverside Health Care is especially appreciative of today’s funding announcement for bariatric equipment and mechanical lifts at Rainycrest Long Term Care that further enhances the delivery of quality care to our residents.” Said Henry Gauthier, President & Chief Executive Officer for Riverside Health Care.

Some of these projects will help residents get the specialized care they need in their long-term care home without having to go to the emergency room or be admitted to hospital. Others will support the admission into homes of people who no longer require acute care in hospital, but who have complex needs that can be difficult to accommodate without specialized services and supports.

“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 Paul Calandra, Minister of Long-Term Care. “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 Local Priorities Fund is part of an investment of over $120 million in 2022-23 to provide access to a range of specialized services and supports that are helping long-term care residents with complex needs access connected and convenient care in the right place.

The government is fixing long-term care to ensure Ontario’s seniors get the quality of care and quality of life they need and deserve both now and in the future. This work is built on four pillars: staffing and care; quality and enforcement; building modern, safe, and comfortable homes; and providing seniors with faster, more convenient access to the services they need.

Quick Facts

  • Ontario’s over $120 million investment in specialized services and supports in 2022-23 includes up to $20 million for the Ontario Health Local Priorities Fund referenced in today’s announcement, $5.91 million for four new Behavioural Specialized Units in long-term care homes, an additional $5 million for Behavioural Supports Ontario, $2.6 million for Baycrest’s Virtual Behaviour Medicine program, and $4.5 million to build dedicated spaces for health care at a new seniors’ housing complex in Kenora.
  • Through a $6.4 billion investment, the province is adding nearly 60,000 new and upgraded long-term care beds and increasing the amount of care residents receive so seniors can live with dignity. This will increase the number of available 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 if they are being cared for in a hospital while waiting to move into a long-term care home.
  • The province has also made a $4.9 billion commitment 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 provided $673 million to long-term care homes in 2022-23 and is providing $1.25 billion to long-term care homes in 2023-24 to hire and retain thousands of long-term care staff across the province.

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