Ontario Budget's Home Care Funding Boost Will Benefit Families and Caregivers

TORONTO, March 28, 2018 /CNW/ - Home Care Ontario the voice of home care in Ontario^TM said the focus of home care in today's budget is a recognition of the importance of home care in Ontario and will keep seniors in their homes and communities longer and reduce the mounting pressure on our caregivers.

"This is a great day for Ontarians who want and need more home care, as today's investments will help them get it," said Sue VanderBent, CEO, of Home Care Ontario. "These increased investments are the foundation of a strong home care system for the 21^st century and will make sure people get care where they want it – at home".

Home Care Ontario has been calling for increased investments in front line care and initiatives to support professional caregivers and today the government announced:

• An additional $650 million in funding over three years, including $180 million this year which will result in 2.8 million more personal support worker visits, 284,000 nursing visits, 58,000 therapy visits and funding to begin to meet the increased demand for therapy and other home care services;
• $126 million to increase the number of PSWs in underserved communities and provide them with additional training: and,
• $1 billion Seniors' Healthy Home Program to help keep seniors in their homes longer.

"Home Care Ontario commends the government for the steps taken in today's Budget," concluded VanderBent. "We look forward to continuing to work closely with the government to implement these important programs and ensure that all funding is 100% directed to frontline patient care."

About Home Care Ontario

Home Care Ontario, the voice of home care in Ontario^TM, is a member-based organization with a mandate to promote growth and development of the home care sector through advocacy, knowledge transfer, and member service. Home Care Ontario members include those engaged in and/or supportive of home-based health care. In Ontario, service provider organizations are responsible for providing nursing care, home support services, personal care, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, social work, dietetics, speech language therapy and medical equipment and supplies in the home to individuals of all ages. An estimated 58 million hours of publicly and privately purchased home care service is provided annually across the province.

SOURCE Ontario Home Care Association

Sue VanderBent, CEO, 905-543-9474, [email protected]