Making sure that Ontario’s seniors have the supports they need to avoid lengthy stays in our hospitals is one of our government’s top priorities. We think it’s important to help seniors stay at home as long as possible because we know it’s where they want to be. That’s why, over the last seven years, we have increased support for community-based programs and launched brand new initiatives that are helping Ontario seniors continue to live independently.
As part of our Wait Times Strategy, we have been trying to speed up the number of hip and knee surgeries performed in Ontario. Since we launched the strategy in 2004, we have funded 67,800 extra hip and knee joint replacements – that’s over and above the volume of surgeries hospitals were already performing.But it’s clear that, in order for a senior to recover from an invasive surgery like hip or knee replacements and return home from hospital, they need access to high quality rehab and physiotherapy services. That’s why we recently approved additional funding for in-home rehabilitation services. This year, we’re providing more than $14 million to Community Care Access Centres to make sure that people who have joint replacement surgeries can get the rehab services they need after the fact. The idea is to make sure that people can recover more quickly in the comfort of their own homes.
We’re also funding new rehabilitation services through Ontario’s Aging at Home program. The four-year, $1.1-billion initiative is giving thousands of Ontario seniors the tools and supports to get the health care they need at home or in the community. The Aging at Home program is tailored to local needs. So, for example, in the Brampton area, the program provides rides to seniors who need to get to and from rehab appointments. And in Orangeville, the local hospital was able to hire an occupational therapist through the Aging at Home program in order to give seniors intensive rehabilitation supports. The therapist is helping to make sure patients can transition from hospital back home more easily.I’m a demographer by training so I know that, as the population ages, more and more people will be looking to use our health care system and rehabilitation services. We have a big job ahead of us. But our government recognizes how crucial it is to ensure that these supports are available to our aging population. That’s why, in collaboration with health care providers and industry partners, we’re going to keep working hard to make sure that we can continue to strengthen rehabilitation supports for Ontario seniors.
