TORONTO - January 8, 2013 - McGuinty Government’s Plan for Seniors Guided by Expert Advice
Ontario is moving forward with its Seniors Strategy to provide better care to older Ontarians, including matching every senior with a primary care provider.
Today, Dr. Samir Sinha presented the McGuinty government with the highlights and key recommendations from Living Longer, Living Well, a comprehensive report on how to help seniors stay healthy and live at home longer. The recommendations cover health and wellness, social services, and community living for older Ontarians.
"I want to thank Dr. Sinha for listening to Ontarians and reflecting their input along with his expertise in the development of this report. I look forward to continuing to work with Dr. Sinha as we implement a Seniors Strategy with new measures to support older Ontarians, so they can stay healthy and at home longer." — Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long Term Care
Dr. Sinha, the Director of Geriatrics at Mount Sinai and the University Health Network Hospitals and a Rhodes Scholar with a Masters in Medical History and a Doctorate in Sociology at the University of Oxford's Institute of Ageing, will work with the government to implement many of the recommendations in the Seniors Strategy over the coming months, starting with measures to:
...Match every older Ontarian who wants one with a primary care provider through Health Links and new physician incentives to care for high-needs patients.
...Improving access to home care by expanding personal support worker services through community support agencies for low-needs patients.
"This report provides clear direction on how to make Ontario a place where seniors can remain active and engaged and lead independent, productive lives in good health. We will work with Dr. Sinha to ensure that Ontario continues to be the best place to grow old." — Linda Jeffrey, Minister Responsible for Seniors
The report, which is the result of research and consultations in 19 communities across the province with more than 5,000 seniors and 2500 health, social, and community care providers, will inform Ontario's Seniors Strategy. The strategy will help ensure that older Ontarians have access to the right care, at the right time and in the right place, a key commitment of the McGuinty government's Action Plan for Health Care. In the coming days, the government will announce further seniors initiatives including an Action Plan for Seniors.
"This report summarizes what I heard from thousands of Ontarians on how we can provide better care for our elders. I look forward to working with the government to implement a Seniors Strategy based on these recommendations that will truly make Ontario the best place to grow up and grow old." — Dr. Samir Sinha, Expert Lead, Seniors Strategy
Quick Facts
...More than 5,000 seniors, 2,500 health, social, and community care providers and municipal officials, and over 1,000 caregivers shared their advice.
...As announced in the 2012 Budget, the government will increase funding for community and home care services by an average of four per cent over the next three years.
...The funding for three million additional Personal Support Worker hours over the next three years will provide care at home for 90,000 more seniors.
...Ontario’s 1.9 million seniors make up 14.6 per cent of province’s population and account for nearly half of its current health care spending.
...The number of Ontarians age 65 and older is expected to double over the next 20 years.
Learn More
Read highlights and key recommendations from Living Longer, Living Well.
Find out more about seniors’ care in Ontario.
Read Ontario’s Action Plan for Health Care.
