NLIS 39
March 27, 2003
(Health and Community Services)

 


Continued commitment to personal care homes

Gerald Smith, Minister of Health and Community Services, today announced that Budget 2003 provides $1.3 million for the personal care home sector. This year is the fourth consecutive year government has made a commitment to this sector. The funding will be used to increase rates to personal care homes and the number of subsidies for individuals.

"With the personal care home sector, the new subsidies allocated over the past four years have been portable subsidies that are assigned to individuals, not to a bed. This provides Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, who need this type of care, the ability to choose a personal care home," said Minister Smith.

There are over 100 personal care and community care homes in the province. These privately-owned facilities provide low-level care and accommodation in a residential setting to seniors and individuals with mental illness. The regional Health and Community Services Boards are responsible for monitoring these homes.

"Government has committed to developing a long-term care and supportive services strategy, as outlined in Healthier Together. This strategy will involve developing models of care that are best suited to the needs of the people of our province, and personal care homes will be an integral part of that strategy," said Minister Smith. "We want to continue to work with this sector as we move forward with improving long-term care in the province."

Media contact: Diane Keough, Communications, (709) 729-1377

2003 03 27                                        4:20 p.m.


SearchHomeBack to GovernmentContact Us


All material copyright the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. No unauthorized copying or redeployment permitted. The Government assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of any material deployed on an unauthorized server.
Disclaimer/Copyright/Privacy Statement