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

Grimsby – The Ontario government is investing $294,513 in nineteen projects across Niagara 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.

The funding was announced today at Deer Park Villa in Grimsby, a local long-term care home administered by the Regional Muncipality of Niagara.

“Today’s announcement in Grimsby highlights our government’s commitment to fix Ontario’s long-term care system and ensure seniors in Niagara get the quality of care and quality of life they need and deserve,” said Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West.

“The regional projects funded through the Local Priorities Fund will better accommodate residents in Niagara with complex needs and help fulfill our government’s goal of connecting seniors to care when they need it and where they need it.”

“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 Hon. 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.”

“On behalf of the Regional Council, I want to share our appreciation for the investment that the Ontario government is announcing for our long-term care homes today,” said Jim Bradley, Chair of the Regional Municipality of Niagara.

“The diagnostic equipment that will be purchased with these funds will be utilized to improve the care and quality of life of our residents.”

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 Local Priorities Fund is part of an investment of over $120 million in 2022-23 to provide access to a range of long-term care-focused specialized services and supports that are helping people 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.