Ontario adds 20 long-term care beds in Huntsville
HUNTSVILLE — Local lobbying efforts have paid off long-term in Muskoka.
Ontario is opening 20 new long-term care beds in Huntsville to help seniors access the care they need, closer to home.
They are in addition to 76 existing beds at Fairvern Nursing Home that will be “redeveloped” to create 96-bed home.
In a release Friday, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care announced the beds are part of Ontario’s commitment to create 5,000 long-term care beds over the next four years and more than 30,000 over the next decade.
They say this investment is part of Aging with Confidence: Ontario’s Action Plan for Seniors, which has more than 20 new initiatives to help seniors access the supports they need.
Candidates in the recent PC Party leadership also promised more beds beyond what the government has announced.
The governing Liberals say their plan also includes 15 million more hours of nursing, personal support and therapeutic care for long-term care home residents, a free annual high-dose influenza vaccine for seniors, and a new one-stop website where seniors can find information about tax credits, drug coverage, powers of attorney, recreation programs and more.
“Our government is committed to supporting Ontario residents who rely on long-term care homes for their ongoing health and personal care needs. By adding 20 new long-care beds to the redevelopment of Fairvern Nursing Home in Huntsville, we are helping more seniors access the care they need in their community, close to family and friends.” Dr. Helena Jaczek, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care
Quick Facts:
In addition to creating 30,000 new long-term care beds, Ontario is supporting the redevelopment of 30,000 long-term care beds in 300 homes across the province by 2025, including eliminating all four-bed wards, under the Enhanced Long-Term Care Home Renewal Strategy.
The province says it has nearly doubled its annual funding for long-term care since 2003, from $2.1 billion to $4.14 billion.
In 2017-18, the province announced a $101 million investment over the next three years for Ontario’s dementia strategy, which includes expanding access to community programs, enhancing education, training and respite services for care partners, and expanding access to care coordination for patients.
Additional Resources:
Aging with Confidence: Ontario’s Action Plan for Seniors
Patients First: Action Plan for Health Care
“Our government is committed to supporting Ontario residents who rely on long-term care homes for their ongoing health and personal care needs. By adding 20 new long-care beds to the redevelopment of Fairvern Nursing Home in Huntsville, we are helping more seniors access the care they need in their community, close to family and friends.” Dr. Helena Jaczek, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care
