Ensuring the Right Care, at the Right Time, in the Right Place Improving Access to Home and Community Care in York Region

NEWS December 11, 2013

Seniors and residents in York Region are receiving better access to home care and community supports to help them live independently and at home longer.

Ontario is providing over $27.5 million to support home care for over 7,400 more seniors and for expanded community health care services, including mental health supports, in the Central Local Health Integration Network (LHIN).

This investment will support programs that reduce unnecessary emergency room and hospital admissions, including:

. Improved access to culturally and linguistically appropriate mental health and addictions services, including enhanced crisis and trauma care through expanded services such as mobile crisis teams . Increased home care and an expansion of Home First, which helps patients move from hospital to home faster with additional community services . Additional spaces for supportive housing and assisted living services.

Improving access to home care and community supports is a key priority of Ontario’s Action Plan for Health Care and helps to provide the right care, at the right time, in the right place. This is part of the Ontario government's economic plan to invest in people, invest in infrastructure and support a dynamic and innovative business climate.

QUOTES “Our government is investing in health services that will help Vaughan residents get the quality care they need, closer to home. These investments ensure that our communities are able to continue providing support for all patients, especially our seniors. I am proud of the efforts being made by our government to improve access to home care and community supports in York Region.” — , MPP, Vaughan

“I am pleased to see that strategic investments in our health care system will allow the best possible care for our patients and seniors. The Central LHIN will now be able to provide more home care and community supports, allowing our seniors to stay at home longer and to live with more independence. This is great news for the residents of Richmond Hill and all Ontarians.” — , MPP, Richmond Hill

“This multi-million dollar investment to expand home care and community supports is an important step forward, expanding access to programs that make a difference to maintaining independence and quality of life for the residents of Markham.” — Michael Chan, MPP, Markham-Unionville

“Investing in more home care for Seniors and for expanded community health care services means more people will be able to get the care they need outside of the hospital.” — Dr. , MPP, Oak Ridges-Markham

“Providing seniors with more timely access to health care in their homes and communities ensures our health care system works better for everyone, improving access for all who need care, where they need it.” — Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care

“This investment will support many programs valued by seniors in the Central LHIN — programs we know will provide the care that our seniors need to help them live independently in their communities and in their homes.” — Kim Baker, CEO, Central LHIN

QUICK FACTS

. More than 637,000 people currently receive home care across Ontario. . Over the next 20 years, the population of seniors aged 65 and over in Ontario will more than double from 1.9 million today to 4.2 million in 2036.

Helping More Adults & Seniors in the Central LHIN Get Care in the Community

December 11, 2013

Ontario is providing an additional $27,515,700 million to support home care and community services in the Central LHIN. These investments are a key part of the province’s Action Plan for Health Care, which is providing patients with the right care, at the right time, in the right place.

This additional support will help more seniors to live independently at home and will reduce home care wait times, as well as increase access to community supports including mental health services.

More Support for Seniors and Adults in the Central LHIN Project Service Project Description 2013/14 Provider Annualized Funding

Work toward a maximum five day wait time target for personal support services for clients with complex needs who are referred from $6,738,500 community or hospital. (base) Central Central To reduce ALC rates, support provision of in- Community Community Care home care, reduce avoidable hospital Care Access Access Centre readmissions or emergency room visits within $11,866,656 Centre 30 days of hospital discharge, and support (base) partners of Health Links to deliver care to the target/high needs populations including seniors and people with complex health conditions. The enhanced services will expand access to:  Case management services for clients with more complex levels of need as determined by the OCAN Mental health Canadian Mental  Psychiatric consultation and specialized and substance Health knowledge for clients needing more $1,550,000 abuse case Association – intensive and specialized support (base) management Toronto Branch services This program will be incorporated into the existing coordinated access systems and be delivered where the client resides with the goal of keeping clients sustainably housed.

The enhanced services will expand access to Trauma- cultural and linguistic appropriate trauma- specific abuse York Region specific therapy and mental health and $195,684 (base) services for Abuse Program addictions case management services for adults adults utilizing the evidenced-informed Tri- phasic Model of Trauma Therapy. Streamlined The expansion of the Streamlined Access Access to initiative to include supportive housing and York Support include access enhanced analytics. $92,716 (base) Services Network to supportive housing Expanded capacity to reduce long-term care Assisted Living admissions, emergency room visits and Services for hospitalizations. To be confirmed To be confirmed High Risk Seniors

Expand mental health or substance abuse Mental Health crisis services, including mobile crisis teams, and Addictions To be confirmed peer support services and availability of crisis To be confirmed Crisis Services lines. Other projects to be confirmed To be To be confirmed confirmed

Total Allocation $27,515,700

For More Information:

Najva Amin Office of Steven Del Duca, M.P.P Vaughan 416 325-3578

Rocchina Petrozzi Office of Reza Moridi, M.P.P. Richmond Hill 905 884-8080

Karen Wilson Office of Michael Chan, M.P.P. Markham-Unionville 905-305-1935

Eric Pegolo Office of Dr. Helena Jaczek, M.P.P. Oak Ridges-Markham 416 212-5008