Waterloo Region - Ontario is expanding its successful Aging at Home program by investing $7,235,637 in Waterloo Region to help more seniors live independently and reduce pressure on Ontario’s emergency rooms.

This is part of a province-wide investment of $272 million to help seniors receive needed health services in the comfort and dignity of their own homes and communities. The funding will also help to decrease the number of alternate level of care (ALC) patients in hospitals and support more timely discharge of patients waiting to move out of the hospital to more appropriate services.

$7,235,637 for the Aging at Home program in Waterloo Region

$1,080,975 in the Waterloo Wellington Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) to invest in local solutions that will address ALC pressures

$3,203,000 in the Waterloo Wellington LHIN for increased home care, personal support and homemaking services provided by Community Care Access Centres

$250,000 in the Waterloo Wellington LHIN for nurse-led outreach teams to provide more care to patients in long-term care homes and help them avoid transfers to the hospital ER.

ALC patients are individuals in hospital beds who would be better cared for in alternate setting, such as long-term care, rehabilitation or at home. Having more home care and community services enables ALC patients to leave hospital sooner, making more beds available to ER patients.

"The Aging at Home Program will not only will improve the lives of Ontario seniors by providing them with health care services in their own homes, but it will also provide them with local support services to avoid premature admission to long-term care homes or hospitals," said Leeanna Pendergast, MPP for Kitchener-Conestoga. "

“Our government is investing in community-based services so that seniors can have the quality of life they deserve at home.” said John Milloy, MPP Kitchener Centre. “By providing more services to seniors at home and in their communities, these investments have the added benefit of reducing emergency room wait times.”

“I want to commend, and congratulate the organizations that have developed and implemented creative and innovative proposals for much-needed programs for seniors in our community,” said Kathy Durst, Chair of the WWLHIN board. “We have witnessed the success of these programs, which are making a difference in the lives of local seniors.”

It is estimated that Ontario’s senior population will double in the next 16 years.

The Ontario Hospital Association indicates that seniors, who are awaiting access to appropriate care elsewhere, occupy almost 19 per cent of hospital beds in the province.

The government is investing $1.1 billion over four years in the Aging at Home Strategy.