PRESS RELEASE / COMMUNIQUÉ

Michael Chan, MPP Dr. , MPP , MPP Markham-Unionville Oak Ridges-Markham Richmond Hill , MPP Chris Ballard MPP Mario Sergio MPP Vaughan Newmarket-Aurora York West , MPP MPP Willowdale York-Centre

Ontario Investing An Additional $13.7 million in Home and Community Care in our Central LHIN Province Increasing Access to Home Care for Those with High Needs

July 20, 2016 NEWS

Markham - The government is investing approximately $13.7 million in the Central LHIN/CCAC this year, to enhance support for home care clients with high needs and their caregivers. The Central LHIN serves York Region and surrounding areas of the GTA.

Province-wide this investment will help clients and caregivers most in need, including $80 million for enhanced home care and $20 million for caregiver respite. Home care patients and those who care for them will benefit from approximately:

 350,000 additional hours of nursing care  1.3 million additional hours of personal support  600,000 additional hours of respite services for caregivers  100,000 additional hours of rehabilitation.

The Central LHIN will work with the Central CCAC to allocate this funding to increase nursing care, personal support services and respite services to patients and families in our region.

This additional funding is part of Ontario’s 2015 Budget commitment to increase investments in home and community care by more than $750 million over three years. These initiatives support the commitments made in Patients First: A Roadmap to Strengthen Home and Community Care , the province’s plan to improve and expand home and community care.

Helping more people access better health care faster and closer to home is part of the government's plan to build a better Ontario through its Patients First: Action Plan for Health Care . This plan is providing patients with faster access to the right care, better home and community care, the information they need to stay healthy and a health care system that’s sustainable for generations to come.

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QUOTES

“Improving home and community care is one of our government’s most important health care priorities. This $100 million investment greatly expands the amount of nursing and personal support services that will be available to people across the province. These additional hours will make it possible for more people with complex conditions to receive care where they want to be — in their home and community.”

— Dr. , Minister of Health and Long-Term Care

“I am pleased that our government is improving Home and Community Care by investing an additional $13.7 million in the Central LHIN. This investment will mean expanded access to the amount of nursing and personal support services and increased hours of rehabilitation available to those living in Oak Ridges-Markham and across York Region, as well as, and increase to respite for caregivers.” — Dr. Helena Jaczek, M.P.P. Oak Ridges-Markham

“Today’s announcement demonstrates how our government is building a home and community care sector that we can be proud of. This investment will help high need patients in Vaughan get better health care closer to home, and provide supports to the caregivers who need it most.” —Steven Del Duca, M.P.P.

“Today’s announcement of $100 million towards home and community care will go a long way in improving care for the residents of Willowdale. By expanding these services our government is making it easier for patients and their caregivers to access better care at home and in their communities.” — David Zimmer, M.P.P Willowdale

“This infusion of nearly $14 million for home and community care within our local health integration network is a clear indicator that our government is listening, responding and taking focused action to allocate health care dollars where they are needed. I am proud that this investment also supports respite for family caregivers who contribute so much to the quality of life of their loved ones.” — Michael Chan, M.P.P., Markham-Unionville

“The role of the Central Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) is to plan, fund and integrate health care services for more than1.8 million people who live in our communities, including a rapidly growing population of seniors with complex health care conditions. Today’s announcement is good news for patients and families. The additional funding will provide more care for more people, supporting patients to live independently and safely at home, while reducing caregiver stress for their families.”

— Kim Baker, CEO, Central LHIN

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QUICK FACTS

• Home and community care services support people of all ages who require care in their home, at school or in the community. • In 2015, Community Care Access Centres provided home care to approximately 650,000 people — 60 per cent of whom were seniors — including 28.7 million hours of personal support and homemaking, 6.9 million nursing visits and 2.1 million hours of nursing shifts.

• This investment will be allocated to support enhanced care for clients with high needs and respite for caregivers who need it the most. • Information about funding allocations by LHINs will be available in the coming weeks.

LEARN MORE

• Find home care services in your community • Patients First: A Roadmap to Strengthen Home and Community Care • Bringing Care Home • Patients First: Action Plan for Health Care

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For more information, please contact:

Dr. Helena Jaczek, M.P.P., Oak Ridges-Markham 905-294-4931 Michael Chan, M.P.P., Markham-Unionville 905-305-1935 Reza Moridi, M.P.P., Richmond Hill 905-884-8080 Steven Del Duca, M.P.P., Vaughan 905-893-4428 Chris Ballard, M.P.P., Newmarket-Aurora 905-750-0019 Monte Kwinter, M.P.P, York-Centre 416-630-0080 David Zimmer, M.P.P., Willowdale 416-733-7878 Mario Sergio, M.P.P., York West 416-743-7272