Aging at Home in Northeastern Ontario

On August 28, 2007, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) announced the Aging at Home Strategy, a four year program which will invest $1.1 billion into local services throughout Ontario to strengthen community support services and support seniors to live healthy, independent lives in their own homes.

The North East Local Health Integration Network (NE LHIN) received close to $16.7 million over three years to support the local needs of seniors’ citizens of Northeastern Ontario.

Aging at Home is not a financial investment, it is an investment in people, patient care and strengthening the ability of Northeastern communities to support caring for their frail and elderly citizens. The need for more home care support is growing across the province and notably in Northeastern Ontario where 17% of the population is currently age 65 or over and this number is projected to increase to 30% within the next 20 years.

Aging at Home initiatives within the NE LHIN are helping to reduce community ALC pressures and unnecessary emergency room visits by seniors through an increase in innovative solutions such as more:

Years 1 and 2 in Review

The main focus for years 1 and 2 of the Strategy was to create a continuum of community-based services for seniors and their caregivers to enable seniors to live independently and safely in their own homes for as long as possible. It also worked towards matching the needs of seniors and their caregivers with the appropriate local support services and avoided unnecessary loss of independence and dignity due to premature admission to long-term care homes or hospitals.

Year 3

Helping to reduce Northeastern Ontario’s Emergency Room (ER)/Alternate Level of Care (ALC) pressures will be the main focus of Year 3 programs and services. Year 3 programs will also help to further strengthen the NE LHIN’s Regional Home First Strategy and support our seniors’ expressed desire to stay home, go home and enjoy their homes … longer.