Province helping more long-term care residents connect to convenient care
LONDON — The Ontario government is helping long-term care residents connect to care in the comfort of their home and avoid unnecessary trips to the emergency department by expanding the nurse-led outreach team model across Ontario, including one in London.
“We’re fixing long-term care so residents get the right care in the right place,” said Stan Cho, Minister of Long-Term Care. “Our targeted investments in specialized staffing mean more residents in the London area can be cared for in the comfort of their homes.”
The new nurse-led outreach team in London will support approximately 3,500 residents across 24 long-term care homes in the area. The team consists of specialized nurse practitioners and registered nurses who provide residents convenient access to in-person and virtual consultations and care in the comfort of their long-term care home. They also work in partnership with emergency departments and long-term care homes to coordinate timely and rapid diagnostic services for residents, as part of the broad care provided to homes.
The government is investing more than $500,000 to expand seven nurse-led outreach teams in northern and western Ontario to connect over 9,900 residents in 76 additional long-term care homes to more convenient care. This builds on the 28 teams that are already in place across the province that provide care to more than two thirds of residents in long-term care homes.
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. The plan is built on four pillars: staffing and care; quality and enforcement; building modern, safe and comfortable homes; and connecting seniors with faster, more convenient access to the services they need.