Five long-term care homes in Peterborough County are receiving more than $7.2 million in provincial funding to increase staffing levels this year.
On Tuesday (March 15), the Ontario government announced it will provide $673 million to long-term care homes across Ontario this year to hire and retain up to 10,000 staff, leading to more direct care for residents.
Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith was at Fairhaven Long-Term Care Home in Peterborough on Friday (March 18) to announce the funding for long-term care homes in Peterborough County. He was joined by Peterborough County councillor and Fairhaven board member Karl Moher, City of Peterborough councillor Keith Riel, and Fairhaven executive director Lionel Towns.
“Our seniors deserve the best care possible,” MPP Smith said. “This $7.2 million investment takes us one step further in delivering the care loved ones in our community rightfully expect.”
The Ontario government has committed $4.9 billion to hire more than 27,000 long-term care staff by 2024-25, increasing the average daily hours of direct care per resident by one hour and 21 minutes — compared to an increase of 22 minutes between 2009 and 2018 — for a total of four hours of direct care in the next four years.
Direct care is hands-on care provided by registered nurses, registered practical, nurses and personal support workers that includes personal care, such as help with eating, bathing and dressing, as well as other tasks such as helping residents move and providing medication. Seniors entering long-term care today are older and have more complex medical needs than they did just a decade ago.
In Peterborough County, five long-term care homes are receiving a total of $7,212,576:
- Fairhaven Long-Term Care Home in Peterborough – $2,232,672
- St. Joseph’s at Fleming in Peterborough – $1,744,272
- Extendicare Inc. in Peterborough – $1,517,520
- Extendicare Inc. in Lakefield – $872,136
- Riverview Manor Nursing Home in Peterborough – $845,976
“Our region has one of the highest seniors populations in Canada and the demand for long-term care in our region will continue to grow,” Moher said. “It is our jobs as representatives to ensure that our residents receive the additional care and support that this funding will provide for.”
Friday’s announcement follows $3.2 million in funding provided to the five long-term care homes last year, part of a $270 million investment in the first year of the governemnt’s $4.9 billion plan, which included $911,908 for Fairhaven. That funding allowed Fairhaven to hire 25 new full-time and 19 part-time positions.
In addition to the $673 million announced this week, the province plans to invest $1.25 billion in 2023 and $1.82 billion in 2024.
