NEWS RELEASE DAVID ORAZIETTI, MPP **************************** Orazietti announces $2.6 million to improve patient care in Sault Ste. Marie Province continuing to invest in community-based health care services SAULT STE.

NEWS RELEASE



DAVID ORAZIETTI, MPP



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Orazietti announces $2.6 million to improve patient care in Sault Ste. Marie



Province continuing to invest in community-based health care services



SAULT STE. MARIE - The provincial government is investing $2,691,000 to enhance patient care in Sault Ste. Marie by expanding community-based capacity for patients no longer requiring hospital-based services, David Orazietti MPP announced today.



“We know that the hospital is not always the most appropriate place for patients no longer requiring 24-hour a day acute care and that people are almost always more comfortable receiving care in their own homes,” said Orazietti. “These investments will help more seniors in Sault Ste. Marie access the care they need in the community, which enables aging residents to continue living with greater independence and also relieves pressure on our local ER and hospital.”



Today’s announcement provides additional support for 9 local programs as part of the Sault Ste. Marie Alternative Level of Care Plan.



Programs receiving funding include services aimed at improving the transition for patients between hospital and community care, the expansion of adult day programs, enhancements to local assisted living supports and additional community-based specialized geriatric services.



Program highlights include:



PATH Program



The PATH Program helps patients make the transition from hospital to home safely, smoothly and comfortably.



The program ensures patients need not feel vulnerable and along after their hospital stay, but instead have the support needed. It is an innovative partnership between community support services agencies, Community Care Access Centre (CCAC) and hospitals to provide for planned, escorted discharge from hospital to home following their hospital stay (ED or inpatient units).



It is designed for seniors living alone, with an older or frail caregiver or with family away all day.



With transportation and the services of a Home At Last (HAL) attendant the patient is escorted from the hospital and settled in at home safe and comfortably.



Behavioural Support Ontario (BSO) Program



The BSO program, introduced by the Ontario government, assists seniors who experience challenging responsive behaviours brought on by dementia, neurological conditions, mental health issues and addictions.



The program works to enhance care for patients with challenging behaviours at home and in hospital and reduce their risk of becoming an ALC patient.



“Shifting care from hospital to community is what Northerners want,” said Louise Paquette, CEO of the North East LHIN. “This plan will directly help seniors and their families by providing more assisted living, extended adult day program hours, dementia recreation and counseling, extra help making the transition from hospital to home, and geriatric services.”



These new investments will increase capacity in the community allowing more seniors to continue to live longer at home.



Additional community supports will relieve pressures on our hospital and long-term care homes, allowing for better patient flow through the hospital, improved emergency department wait times and shorter waits for long-term care placement.



Quick facts



The 2013 Ontario Budget announced an additional $260 million for home and community care next year to reduce wait times for patients and support 46,000 more seniors.



The province has invested $55 million over two years in the Behavioural Supports Ontario Project to supports for patients with challenging behaviours.



Ontario is working to set a five-day wait time target for patients whose complex needs require home care from a nurse or a personal support worker.



Ontario’s Healthy Homes Renovation Tax Credit and investment in an additional 30,000 house calls are helping seniors live safely in their own homes.





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