Ontario Connecting More People To Dementia Care In Their Community
$93,000 investment will expand access to dementia care and supports across Simcoe County
December 09, 2024 – For Immediate Release
SIMCOE COUNTY, ON — Today, MPP’s Doug Downey, Jill Dunlop, Andrea Khanjin, Caroline Mulroney and Brian Saunderson were pleased to announce that the Ontario government is investing $93,000 to connect more people in Simcoe County 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 Simcoe County community-based First Link® Care Navigation program that connects people living with dementia, and their families, with help navigating care, education, and resources.
“Finding community supports and understanding from those who share a diagnosis can often be as important to the care journey as medical treatment. This funding will help the Alzheimer’s Society of Simcoe County patients and their families as they navigate care in a connected and fully supported way.”
– Hon. Doug Downey, MPP for Barrie – Springwater –Oro-Medonte
“On behalf of myself and my fellow MPPs, we are thrilled with the Ontario government’s investment in expanding dementia care, support, and services in Simcoe-Grey. This funding, directed to the Alzheimer Society of Ontario, is a vital step toward ensuring that individuals and families impacted by dementia receive the care they deserve. This initiative will provide critical resources and support across our entire region, enhancing the quality of life for many residents. With this investment, we are strengthening our healthcare system and showing that we are committed to supporting those who need it most, now and in the future.”
– Hon. Jill Dunlop, MPP for Simcoe North
“This $6.9 million dollar investment will benefit our region and local communities by connecting people living with dementia, and their caregivers to services, education and resources. This funding will help to benefit our region by hiring 36 full time staff members, which means shorter wait times for existing patients and more support for new clients.”
– Hon. Andrea Khanjin, MPP for Barrie-Innisfil
“Our government is making the right investments that will support those living with dementia and the loved ones that care for them. This investment is a part of our $6.9 million plan to connect more residents living with dementia to the care they need, closer to home.”
– Hon. Caroline Mulroney, MPP for York-Simcoe
“More than 250,000 Ontarians are living with dementia. That’s why it’s vitally important that families, especially those in rural areas, are able to access and connect with the frontline experts who can offer support and the latest information about dementia care. My thanks go out to the team at the Alzheimer Society of Simcoe County for the tremendous work they do in helping those living with dementia, and their families.”
– Brian Saunderson, MPP for Simcoe-Grey
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.
“The Alzheimer Society of Simcoe County is thrilled to be able to expand our First Link® Care Navigation program in the region. This provincial funding is critical to enabling us to connect more quickly to a greater number of individuals living with dementia and their care partners. These are friends, family members and neighbours, who will benefit from hands on support, education and connection to key resources. Demand for our services is high and growing. Local community focused funding like this is so critical to supporting more people to live well and thrive with dementia in our region. I have deep appreciation for the long-time support our MPPs have had with our Simcoe County Society. This is another example of the strength of our partnerships and their care for those we help.”
– Ann-Marie Kungl, CEO – Alzheimer Society of Simcoe County
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES