News

Ontario Connecting Long-Term Care Residents in Thunder Bay to Specialized Care and Supports

Investment providing supports in long-term care homes instead of hospitals

Date: 2023-04-13

Thunder Bay, ON - The Ontario government is investing $1,439,592 in 6 projects in Thunder Bay 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. This is part of a $20 million investment this year in 189 projects provincewide through a new Local Priorities Fund operated by Ontario Health.

"This investment, tailored to the needs of our community, will provide long-term care residents right here in Thunder Bay with the specialized supports and services they need," said Kevin Holland, MPP for Thunder Bay-Atikokan. "Under Premier Doug Ford's leadership, we're taking action to bolster our province's long-term care system and put residents' needs first."

Some of the local projects will do this by helping 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.

The projects in Thunder Bay receiving funding are:

• $27,759 to Bethammi Nursing Home for the purchase of specialized equipment to improve the accessibility of the long-term care home for current and future residents, bariatric equipment to support the admission of residents with bariatric care needs, and medical equipment to support the admission of residents with other complex care needs like dialysis;
• $196,128 to Hogarth Riverview Manor for the purchase of bariatric equipment to support the admission of residents with bariatric care needs and specialized equipment to improve the accessibility of the long-term care home for current and future residents;
• $486,569 to Hogarth Riverview Manor for the ongoing, specialized training of staff on dementia and bariatric care to support the admission of residents with complex care needs;
• $16,714 to Pioneer Ridge for the purchase of bariatric equipment to support the admission of residents with bariatric care needs; and
• $87,422 to Southbridge Pinewood for the purchase of bariatric equipment to support the admission of residents with bariatric care needs.
• $625,000 to St. Joseph's Care Group, who operates Bethammi Nursing Home and Hogarth Riverview Manor, for the hiring of nurses, social workers, and behavioural, occupational, and recreational therapists to support enhanced assessment and care planning.

“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.

Quotes

“We are very thankful for this investment and for the opportunity to better address the unmet needs of our community and ALC clients. We are hopeful that with additional resources this funding has permitted, we will be able to provide a home for clients on the wait list we were unable to provide for in the past. We look forward to working closely with our HC partners and identifying resources that will ensure clients receive the right care at the right time and in the right place.”

- Lee Mesic, Administrator, Pioneer Ridge

“The Local Priorities Fund has allowed targeted investment in specialized equipment and training that will not only benefit current and future residents of long-term care, but it also supports our staff to deliver the safe, high-quality care that residents deserve. This $700,000 investment will prevent unnecessary hospitalization, enable better transitions from hospital to long-term care, and allow us to support individuals with higher care needs. Thank you MPP Holland and Ontario Health for creating a Fund that listens and responds to the needs of the residents of long-term care.”

- Kelli O’Brien, President & CEO, St. Joseph’s Care Group

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.

Additional Resources

• Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care

Media Contact:

Jake Roseman
Office of the Minister of Long-Term Care
Jake.Roseman@ontario.ca

Ministry of Long-Term Care Media Line
Communications Branch
MLTC.Media@ontario.ca