The North East Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) announced an investment of more than $1.4 million to provide additional support for seniors with advanced dementia, and provide assisted living services for older adults through several programs and organizations.
Finlandia Village's Hoivakoti long-term care home received $480,000 to create a new Enhanced Care Seniors Support Program for seniors with dementia.
Angela Harvey, an administrator with Finlandia Village, said the funding will allow the facility to hire more staff, including a registered nurse, at least two registered practical nurses, and personal support workers to increase the level of care seniors with dementia will receive.
Harvey said the program is in its early stages, and will start to accept new residents for a separate home area in November.
“The main difference will be the enhanced staffing we will have in there,” Harvey said.
The home area will be able to host eight residents who will receive more one-on-one care and additional support programs to help residents with responsive behaviours in dementia.
“It will help decrease their responsive behaviours,” Harvey said.
Responsive behaviours can include changes in a person's mood, or a range of behavioural issues ranging from verbal and physical responses to a person with dementia wandering and searching for an exit.
The North East LHIN also announced March of Dimes will receive $400,000 to provide assisted living services for seniors in the Valley East area and the Canadian Red Cross will receive $400,000 to support seniors living in communities along Highway 144, from Azilda to Levack.
In addition, another $200,000 in will be used to support seniors with assisted living services upon discharge from hospital. This funding will go to various providers across the city, including the Independence Centre and Network (ICAN), March of Dimes, Canadian Red Cross and Ukrainian Seniors.
