NEWS RELEASE
OFFICE OF MPP BRIAN RIDDELL
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CAMBRIDGE — The Ontario government is investing $99,900 to connect more people in Waterloo-Wellington 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 Cambridge community-based First Link® Care Navigation program that connects people living with dementia, and their families, with help navigating care, education, and resources.
“The Alzheimer Society of Waterloo-Wellington has bee a great asset to Cambridge” said Brian Riddell, MPP for Cambridge. “This funding will help develop an educated care plan to decrease the time between diagnosis and referral to our local Alzheimer Society.”
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.
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