HAMILTON — The Ontario government is investing more than $1.3 million in 11 long-term care homes in Hamilton to help seniors with complex needs like dementia and bariatric care connect to specialized care and supports in a home instead of a hospital. This is part of a $20 million investment in 2022-23 in 189 projects provincewide through a new Local Priorities Fund operated by Ontario Health.
“We’re expanding specialized services and supports for long-term care residents in Hamilton, so people with complex needs get the care they need and deserve in the comfort of a home, instead of a hospital,” said John Jordan, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Long-Term Care. “Our government is taking action to ensure Ontario’s seniors get the right care in the right place.”
Local Priorities Fund projects help residents get specialized care in their long-term care home, reducing emergency department visits and hospital admissions. They can also help long-term care homes admit alternate level of care hospital patients — people who no longer require acute care in hospital, but who have complex needs that are difficult to accommodate without specialized services and supports.
The projects allocated funding in Hamilton are:
- $785,508 for three projects at Idlewyld Manor for bariatric and diagnostic equipment, and eight beds for people with medically complex conditions;
- $233,235 for The Village of Wentworth Heights for bariatric equipment, diagnostic equipment, wound care mattresses, and specialized dementia training for staff;
- $210,635 to Hamilton Continuing Care for bariatric and diagnostic equipment (bladder scanner), wound care mattresses, and specialized dementia training for staff;
- $53,268 for two projects at Shalom Village to purchase bariatric and diagnostic equipment;
- $19,421 to Alexander Place for diagnostic equipment;
- $19,176 to Heritage Green Nursing Home for diagnostic equipment;
- $17,217 to St. Peter’s Residence at Chedoke for diagnostic equipment;
- $8,698 to Ridgeview Long Term Care Home for diagnostic equipment;
- $7,343 to Wentworth Lodge for diagnostic equipment;
- $7,343 to Macassa Lodge for diagnostic equipment; and
- $3,500 to Regina Gardens for bariatric equipment.
The Local Priorities Fund is part of a broader investment of over $120 million in 2022-23 to provide access to a range of specialized services and supports that are helping long-term care residents 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.