Recently announced provincial funding for local long-term homes falls short of what's needed.
That's according to Lambton County's Long Term Care Division General Manager.
County-run facilities Lambton Meadowview Villa and Marshall Gowland Manor are each receiving just under $1.1 million from April 1 to November.
Jane Joris said that's the same allocation as last year, and they were anticipating an increase. She said it won't help with the increasing staffing and care needs.
"Actually it might be a bit of a decrease because there was funding for 'supporting professional growth' that was announced in November and we haven't received information yet on whether that funding will continue."
The eventual goal is for every resident to receive—on average—four hours of direct care per day by 2024-25.
"We won't be able to move to 3.25 hours of care by April 1," said Joris. "We're pretty close in our homes, between 3.1 and 3.2, but we won't be at 3.25 which was what our goal was by April 1. Everyone was anticipating that we would have a few hours to increase this year. It has to be specific positions, so RNs, RPNs and PSWs, to increase the direct care for the residents, so it's disappointing."
She notes they were able to ramp up their care with increased provincial funding which spanned from November 2021 to the end of March.
Funding was also announced for Afton Park Place, Sumac Lodge, Fiddick's Nursing Home, Trillium Villa, Twin Lakes Terrace, and Vision Nursing Home.
