Health and Community Services
October 29, 2015

Supporting Health Care Services for Residents and Communities

Evaluation of the Enhanced Care in Personal Care Homes Pilot Project Supports Expansion of Program

The Provincial Government has received the evaluation results of the Enhanced Care in Personal Care Homes Pilot Project and is working with the personal home sector and the regional health authorities to explore options to expand the program. The pilot project allows personal care homes to provide care to residents who require a higher level of care than is normally provided in a personal care home.

"The Enhanced Care in Personal Care Homes Pilot Project supports our intention to provide an effective health care system that meets the needs of every resident and family. The project assists some of our most vulnerable citizens who require specific supports in order to enable them to live in a personal care home in their community. The final evaluation pf the pilot project indicates that the program was very well received by personal care home owners, regional health authority staff members, residents, and families."
- The Honourable Steve Kent, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Community Services

The evaluation of the project was completed by the Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health Information and confirmed that personal care homes can provide safe, quality care to individuals who require a higher level of care than is normally provided in a personal care home.

Three personal care homes participated in the 18 month pilot project, Mountain View House in Meadows, Golden Years Estates in Gander, and Callingwood Downs in Clarke's Beach. The pilot project allowed for the placement of up to eight residents in each pilot site at a time, for a total of 49 individuals over the course the project.

"We are pleased to have the opportunity to work with the Provincial Government, Regional Health Authorities and most of all the residents and their families that we have served, on this exciting new service option which has already benefited so many. This is truly another step forward, in allowing our seniors to age in place and provide families a greater peace of mind, with the continuum of care, in a place they come to know as home. Our industry looks forward to all that we can accomplish in the coming years, to improve the lives of our seniors and their families in the province."
- Beverly Russell, President, Quality Living Alliance for Seniors Association

Consistent with the Provincial Government's Close to Home: A Strategy for Long-Term Care and Community Support Services, Budget 2015 includes an investment of approximately $700 million for long-term care and community support services, including home support and personal care homes.

QUICK FACTS

• The Provincial Government has received the evaluation results of the Enhanced Care in Personal Care Homes Pilot Project and is working with the personal home sector and the regional health authorities to explore options to expand the program.
• The evaluation of the project was completed by the Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health Information and confirmed that personal care homes can provide safe, quality care to individuals who require a higher level of care than is normally provided in a personal care home.
• The project will continue in the three pilot sites as the Provincial Government explores options for expansion of the project.
• Consistent with the Provincial Government's Close to Home strategy for long-term care, Budget 2015 includes an investment of approximately $700 million for long-term care and community support services, including home support and personal care homes.

- 30 -

Media contacts:

Tina Williams Director of Communications Department of Health and Community Services 709-729-1377, 728-2837 tinawilliams@gov.nl.ca

Beverly Russell President Quality Living Alliance for Seniors Association bev_russell@nf.sympatico.ca

2015 10 29                              11:20 a.m.