Ontario announces $1 billion in funding for home care over three years

Ontario announced an additional $1 billion in funding for home care over three years.

The announcement from Health Minister Christine Elliot comes days ahead of the provincial budget and an expected election call.

Elliot says the fund will benefit 700,000 families who rely on home care annually, preventing unnecessary hospital and long-term care admissions and shortening hospital stays.

She also says the fund will support expanded home care services, while recruiting and training more home care workers.

“Since the beginning, our government has been taking action to deliver a patient-centred health care system that provides Ontarians with more choice,” said Elliot, in a statement. “This significant investment will ensure Ontarians can receive the care they need in the comfort of their own homes and alleviate unnecessary pressure on our hospitals helping to keep our province open.”

The Ontario Hospital Association says that as of mid-January, there were a record 5,800 patients in hospitals who could be cared for in a different setting.