New community paramedicine program will support seniors on long-term care waitlists
NEWS October 30, 2020
BRANTFORD — The Ontario government is launching the Community Paramedicine for Long-Term Care program in five communities across the province. This program will help seniors on long-term care waitlists stay safe in the comfort of their own homes and communities for longer.
Details of the new program in the County of Brant and the City of Brantford were provided today by Will Bouma MPP for Brantford-Brant, County of Brant Mayor David Bailey, City of Brantford Mayor Kevin Davis and Chief of Paramedics, Russ King.
“As we modernize long-term care in Ontario, it is important the we continue to develop innovative approaches to deliver quality healthcare to our loved ones,” said Minister Fullerton. “This program is an excellent example of our government collaborating across the health care system, and we are grateful for this partnership with paramedicine practitioners that will allow us to better serve our seniors.”
“By providing predictable, sustainable funding for community paramedics, Ontario is providing local seniors who are on Long Term Care waitlists professional medical services that will help them stay in their own homes longer”, said Brantford-Brant MPP Will Bouma.
“This initiative is part of the Province’s modernization plan to address the growing demand for long-term care,” said Mayor David Bailey. “With many people over the age of 75 years, increasing comorbidities, and increasing demand for homecare and long term care beds, many people are cared for by family members and other caregivers. Family caregivers often experience exhaustion, stress, financial loss, and relationship strains. This program will assist families by providing additional in-home supports until a long term care space is available and will collaborate with existing homecare support.”
“Together with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, the City is committed to supporting the senior community, especially during this very challenging time when seniors may be feeling more vulnerable. We are grateful for this additional funding support that will enable us to build on our current paramedicine program by providing enhanced levels of healthcare supports to seniors in their own home, while at the same time helping to ease additional pressures on our local hospital,” said Brantford Mayor Kevin Davis.
This new long-term care focused community paramedicine program will leverage the skills of paramedicine practitioners to help reduce hallway health care and provide additional and appropriate care for seniors. This program, which will be implemented in phases, will delay the need for long-term care for our seniors by providing them with enhanced at-home supports. The program will be fully funded by the provincial government and operated in partnership with local municipalities.
Phase one of the program will be delivered here in the County of Brant and the City of Brantford as one of five communities selected to build upon our existing community paramedicine program.
The program will be delivered through local paramedic services, providing:
- Access to health services 24-7, through in-home and remote methods, such as online or virtual supports;
- Home visits and in-home testing procedures;
- Ongoing monitoring of changing or escalating conditions to prevent or reduce emergency incidents;
- Additional education about healthy living or managing things like chronic diseases; and
- Connections for participants and their families to home care and community supports.
Based on the experience in this first phase, the program may be expanded to additional communities interested in participating in a second phase of the program.
Additional Resources
- Read COVID-19: Long-Term Care Preparedness, the Ministry of Long-Term Care’s plan to prepare long-term care homes for future waves of COVID-19.
- Visit Ontario’s website to learn more about how the province continues to protect Ontarians from COVID-19.
-30-
For more information, contact MPP Will Bouma at 519-759-0361 or will.bouma@pc.ola.org