Seniors at Ontario LTC to get treatment at home thanks to provincial investment

A $24,000 provincial investment in specialized tools and training at Whitby’s Fairview Lodge long-term care home will help seniors get specialized medical care without leaving the comforts of home.

The funding is part of a $35 million investment from the Ontario government to help long-term care homes across the province support residents with complex needs. The Local Priorities Fund (LPF) is designed to support programs that connect people with the right care for them, reducing emergency department visits and hospital stays.

“Fairview Lodge in Whitby is (now) equipped to better care for our loved ones,” said Whitby MPP Lorne Coe. “New specialized equipment and services mean that long-term care residents living in Fairview Lodge can get the care they need without the stress of a trip to the hospital.”

Originally launched in 2022, the LPF provides specialized equipment, services and staff training to enable long-term care homes to admit new residents with specialized needs and support current residents with complex needs. The funding helps purchase items such as IV equipment, bariatrics equipment bed support, bladder scanners and ECGs, as well as everyday items like slip-proof floor mats, wraparound bed rails and grab bars.

“Our government is protecting our long-term care system by investing in the tools and training to ensure residents can get the right care in the right place,” said Ontario Long-Term Care Minister Natalia Kusendova-Bashta. “This funding will expand the specialized equipment and innovative services available at long-term care homes across our province, so those with complex needs get the support they deserve.”

Helping long-term care residents with complex needs is one way the province is trying to meet the needs of Ontario’s aging population and their caregivers by improving and expanding supports for seniors living in long-term care, congregate settings and in the community.

Seniors make up the fastest growing age group in the province and more than 60 per cent of long-term care residents have a dementia diagnosis.

“To ensure better health outcomes for Long-Term Care residents with complex needs, we must continue to invest in tools and services that meet residents where they are,” said Durham Region Chair John Henry. “This funding strengthens our ability to provide compassionate, tailored care and ensures residents can live safely with dignity and comfort.”

Whitby MPP Lorne Coe and Durham Chair John Henry

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