Some relief is coming to four long-term care homes in Simcoe County.
The province has come through for funding for four new registered nurse positions – one each at Trillium Manor in Orillia, Sunset Manor in Collingwood, Georgian Manor in Penetanguishene and Simcoe Manor in Beeton – which was approved during committee of the whole at Simcoe County council last week.
“This is a good news story,” said Jane Sinclair, general manager of health and emergency services with the county. “We’re also looking at an additional nurse manager position to help support the operations of the homes.”
The new annualized base funding of $106,000 ($79,552 in the 2018-19 funding year) will create and fill one new registered nurse full-time equivalent position in each home. All homes have a two-year phase-in period to fill these new positions.
The announcement comes on the heels of the release of a report from the Ontario Health Coalition, outlining concerns that the province's under-staffed long-term care homes are growing ever more violent.
In 2015, Statistics Canada reported that, for the first time in Canadian history, seniors outnumbered children. By 2035, a quarter of Canadians will be aged 65 and older. By 2041, the number of Ontarians over the age of 90 is expected to quadruple to 413,000.
The Alzheimer Society of Ontario predicts the number of residents with dementia, which is defined as decline in memory and other thinking skills, will almost double in the next 15 years. A large portion will also display aggression as the disease progresses.
For our full story on the report, click here.
- with files from Raymond Bowe
