Beaver Staff
Over $3 million in provincial funding has been earmarked for long-term care homes across Hastings-Lennox and Addington.
The Ontario government announced the funding on Wednesday, part of a $270 million commitment made to long-term care homes across the province.
“This funding will allow homes in our community to hire and retain more staff so they can provide more care to residents, every day,” said Hastings-Lennox and Addington MPP Daryl Kramp. “This is part of our government’s plan to hire thousands of new staff over the next four years to ensure those living in long-term care get the high-quality care they need and deserve.”
Local homes receiving funding include the John M Parrott Centre, in Napanee, which will receive up to $598,442. By the year 2024-2025, the home will receive $3,665,376 annually more than their current funding.
Friendly Manor, in Deseronto, will receive up to $213,731. By the year 2024-2025, the home will receive $1,309,056 annually more than their current funding.
Selby’s Village Green Nursing Home will receive up to $170,985. By the year 2024-2025, the home will receive $1,047,252 annually more than their current funding.
Helen Henderson Nursing Home, in Amherstview, will receive up to $370,464. By the year 2024-2025, the home will receive $2,269,032 annually more than their current funding.
Pine Meadow Nursing Home, in Northbrook, will receive up to $227,978. By the year 2024-2025, the home will receive $1,396,332 annually more than their current funding.
Lennox and Addington County General Hospital, in Napanee, will receive up to $71,240. By the year 2024-2025, the hospital will receive $436,344 annually more than their current funding.
Each home is expected to use the funding for additional staffing.
The new funding is part of the province’s commitment to ensure long-term care residents receive — on average — four hours of direct care per day by 2024-25. It was also announced that as part of the government’s plan to fix long-term care, it would bring forward legislation that will enshrine into law this commitment to four hours of care.
“We know that more qualified staff means more daily care for residents,” said Rod Phillips, Minister of Long-Term Care. “Hiring more staff is part of our government’s plan to fix long-term care and to improve the quality of care residents receive and the quality of life they experience.”
Currently, residents receive an average of two hours and 45 minutes of direct care from nurses and personal support workers. This funding will increase the daily average to 3 hours, per resident per day by the end of this fiscal year. This funding also includes $42.8M to homes to increase care by allied health care professionals (such as physiotherapists and social workers) by 10 per cent this year.