NLIS 11
March 21, 2005
(Health and Community Services)
(Finance)
Government enhances care for seniors with $14.5 million investment
The Williams government is taking steps to deliver real, positive change that
will enhance care for seniors, individuals requiring supportive services and
their care providers, Health and Community Services Minister John Ottenheimer
and Finance Minister and President of Treasury Board Loyola Sullivan announced
today.
"As our population ages, the needs of our elderly and vulnerable persons
requiring supportive services continue to grow and present new challenges for
society," said Minister Ottenheimer. "We all want the highest quality of life
for our parents, family and friends who live in long-term care homes or require
continuing care and our government is responding to meet the needs of vulnerable
persons now and for the future."
Budget 2005 outlines a $14.5 million investment to upgrade long-term care
facilities, as well as personal and community care homes across the province,
and to recognize the valuable contribution of home support workers in providing
supportive services to individuals in need in their communities. In addition,
indexation of the Seniors� Benefit will cost $100,000 this year.
Upgrading Homes
Government is committed to providing homes where seniors can live in dignity and
with the highest possible quality of life. Recognizing that investments must be
made now to ensure appropriate capacity in the future, government will proceed
with the following infrastructure projects:
- $2.7 million toward a new Corner Brook long-term care home to proceed with
detailed design and initial site work;
- $1.4 million toward a new long-term care home in Clarenville to begin detailed
design and site work; and
- $200,000 to begin planning and develop conceptual drawings for a new long-term
care home in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.
"Building on our Blueprint commitment to upgrade long-term care facilities
across the province, we�re beginning our investment in areas where there is a
need for community capacity," said Minister Ottenheimer. "Knowing the
appropriate care will be available when people need it protects our elderly and
offers great comfort to families."
Government will also invest $1.2 million in life-safety projects and building
enhancements in existing long term care facilities. Some of the projects include
roof repairs at St. John�s nursing homes; window repairs at Bonavista and
Botwood nursing homes; fire alarm systems upgrades in Buchans and Baie Verte.
As announced recently, government will also address the safety and security of
seniors and persons with disabilities living in personal and community care
homes. Government will invest $4 million to assist operators with the
installation of sprinkler systems in their homes.
One-time capital grants will be offered to eligible home owners for 75 per cent
of sprinkler installation costs up to a maximum of $75,000 per home. Home owners
will qualify for the program if they are in receipt of the fire commissioner�s
2003 order and either do not currently have a sprinkler system or have installed
one as a direct result of the order.
Valuing Care Providers
As families age, parents may no longer be able to care for older children in
need of on-going supports and continuing care. They turn to community support
services that help persons with disabilities, as well as seniors, live in their
communities as independently as possible. Currently, more than 3,500 individuals
are in receipt of home support services throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.
Government recognizes that home support services are an important part of the
continuum of care and needs to retain a stable supply of home support workers
who provide care in the community. Effective April 1, 2005, government is making
a $5 million investment to increase the home support rate so that employers of
home support workers, including both agencies and self-managed home support
clients, can provide a 50 cent-an-hour wage increase to their workers in
recognition of the valuable contribution they make. This represents a 6.9 per
cent wage increase and achieves wage parity with VON workers in Corner Brook.
Newfoundland and Labrador is home to approximately 66,300 seniors, which is
close to 13 per cent of the population. Statistics Canada predicts that by 2021,
the province will have more than one in four persons 65 years or older, the
highest proportion in the country.
Earlier this year, government announced the establishment of a Division of Aging
and Seniors, Provincial Advisory Council and Ministerial Council of Aging and
Seniors � new initiatives focused on seeking the input of seniors in planning
for the future. Through these initiatives, government will address future needs
of long-term care and supportive services.
Seniors� Benefit
In keeping with the Seniors� Benefit indexation announced last year, in Budget
2005 the benefit is indexed to the provincial Consumer Price Index for 2004
which is 1.4. As a result of indexation, the maximum tax credit will become $365
per senior, or $730 per senior couple. In addition, the income phase-out ranges
will also increase. The phase-out will begin at $14,608, up from $14,406, and
will be completely phased-out at $20,864, up from $20,576.
"The indexation announced today brings the total expenditures for the Seniors�
Benefit to $7.8 million," said Minister Sullivan. "Government believes in
supporting seniors� efforts to live full, active and independent lives, and the
measures contained in Budget 2005 are helping to do just that."
Media contact:
Carolyn Chaplin, Health and Community Services, (709) 729-1377, 682-5093
Diane Keough, Finance, (709) 729-1377, 685-4401
2005 03 21 2:45 p.m. |