Ontario Connecting More People to Dementia Care In Their Community

Ontario Connecting More People to Dementia Care In Their Community
$99,900 investment will expand access to dementia care and supports

NEWS – December 9th, 2024

PETERBOROUGH — The Ontario government is investing $99,900 to connect more people in Peterborough Kawartha Lakes Northumberland and Haliburton to dementia care, support and services they need, when they need them. This funding will support services delivered by the Alzheimer Society of Ontario’s Peterborough Kawartha Lakes Northumberland and Haliburton community based First Link® Care Navigation program that connects people living with dementia, and their families, with help navigating care, education, and resources.

“The provincial government is providing funding to the Alzheimer Society of Peterborough Kawartha Lakes Northumberland and Haliburton for the First Link program to further support individuals living with dementia and their families,” said Laurie Scott, MPP for Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock. “With this funding, they will be able to hire additional staff members, reduce wait times, and provide timely support for new clients, ensuring the everyone receives the care, education, and resources they need to navigate the challenges of dementia.”

“This initiative seeks to improve healthcare for those affected by dementia through programs like First Link,” said Dave Smith, Member of Provincial Parliament for Peterborough-Kawartha. “The provincial government aims to support individuals and families dealing with dementia complexities, enhance the Alzheimer Society’s capacity, and promote community awareness. These efforts are essential for improving quality of life and addressing the increasing need for comprehensive dementia care as the population ages.”

“As the rates of dementia burgeon across our four-county area, we would like to applaud this investment in care for persons living with dementia and their care partners through the Alzheimer Society’s First Link program. We welcome the government’s commitment to supporting healthcare navigation and counselling support for people impacted by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, which will aid us in our mission to ensure that no one in our local community has to navigate dementia alone. This investment will make meaningful changes in the lives of the people we support along their dementia journey in the counties of Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, and Haliburton,” said Jen Johnstone, Executive Director of the Alzheimer Society of Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, and Haliburton.

This funding is part of the Ontario government’s $6.9 million investment over two years to support those who have received a dementia diagnosis on their care journey. Funding will support hiring an additional 36 full-time equivalent staff members, shortening wait times for existing patients and providing support for approximately 7,000 new clients across Ontario. Clients will have access to a coordinator who will assist with care planning, care coordination, and referrals to community services.

“Our government is taking bold and innovative action to connect people, at every stage of life, to the care and services they need, when they need them,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “Investing in increased access to dementia care through investing in this high-quality community-based program will allow more families to connect their loved ones to additional services they need in their community.”

Through Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, the province is taking action to provide more people with the right care, in the right place.

QUICK FACTS
– In Ontario, more than 250,000 people live with dementia, and this number is expected to grow as the
population continues to age.
– As part of the 2022 Budget, Ontario is investing $120 million over three years for dementia services.
– In the 2023 Budget, the province accelerated the commitment of $1 billion over three years to stabilize the home and community care workforce and support the expansion of home care services.
– In the 2024 Budget, the government is investing an additional $2 billion over three years to boost this
acceleration, support earlier investments to increase compensation for personal support workers, nurses and other frontline care providers, and to stabilize expanded services.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
– Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care
– 2024 Ontario Budget: Building a Better Ontario
– Home and community care

Media Contact
Dave Smith Action Centre
David.smith@pc.ola.org
705-742-3777