Ontario provides $100 million for homecare clients and their caregivers

Eric Hoskins makes his way to a cabinet briefing after being sworn in as Ontario health minister at Queens Park in Toronto on June 24, 2014. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young)

TORONTO -- People who rely on health services at home and their caregivers will get increased supports from a $100 million commitment from the Ontario government this year.

Health Minister Eric Hoskins said $80 million will be used to provide 350,000 hours of additional nursing care for homecare patients, and 1.3 million additional hours of personal support.

"We will be supporting those who truly need it most: our high needs and complex clients," Hoskins said as he announced the new funding at a Toronto apartment building set up for people who need homecare services to live independently.

The other $20 million will be used to provide another 600,000 hours of respite services for caregivers, and another 100,000 hours of rehabilitation.

"I can't overestimate the importance of this component," said Hoskins. "This will provide that much needed break for caregivers who give so much of themselves to provide daily, around-the-clock care for our loved ones."

Ontario wouldn't have a working homecare program without the caregivers, who are often family members of the patient, but not always, said Hoskins.

"We all know they deliver the lion's share of support and resources to their loved ones, and we know how hard they work, how passionate they are about the care they provide," he said.

"They do need that break, that breath of fresh air at times, and that's why those funds will go towards respite care for them."

Personal care workers can be called in to give family caregivers a break for short periods of a day or less, but there may be a charge if the client is not eligible for coverage as determined by the local Community Care Access Centre.

A client could also be placed in a long-term care home on a temporary basis -- up to 60 days at a time and a maximum of 90 days in any one year -- when their caregivers are going to be away for more than a day. However, they would have to pay $36.34 per day for room and board in a long-term care home.

The government will set up an expert panel to look at the levels of care provided across Ontario, so there will be a clear answer for families who want to know what they can expect for a loved one who needs homecare, said Hoskins.

"It's that consistency in the delivery of homecare services, and taking it even one step further so that it's objective, transparent and accountable," he said.

"So patients, family members and caregivers can understand, based on an assessment of the needs of the client, exactly the services they would be entitled to and how to go about getting those services."

Everyone wants to live at home for as long as possible, said Hoskins.

"Evidence shows they're the happiest and they're the healthiest, and in most cases we can deliver those services at a much lower cost than in a long term care home or a hospital," he said.

The Liberal government promised in the 2015 budget to increase home and community care funding by more than $750 million over three years.