Toronto, Ontario, Oct. 03, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AdvantAge Ontario is thrilled with today’s announcement that the Government of Ontario will be adding 6,000 new long term care beds into the system.

In an important step towards ending hallway health care, Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, and Dr. Rueben Devlin, Special Advisor and Chair of the Council on Improving Healthcare and Ending Hallway Medicine, announced the new long term care beds as well as a $90-million investment for hospitals to help alleviate overcrowding.

“We are pleased to see such quick action on Premier Ford’s campaign promise to add 15,000 new long term care beds over the next five years,” says Lisa Levin, CEO of AdvantAge Ontario. “This government recognizes that this added capacity is urgently needed to alleviate the burden on hospitals and ensure that seniors receive the most appropriate care in the most appropriate setting.”

Members of AdvantAge Ontario, who are community-based not-for-profit providers of seniors’ care, are already managing long wait lists throughout the province as more and more seniors require long term care. In fact, the Association projects that the wait list for long term care beds will be at 48,000 by 2021. Today’s new beds will mean fewer seniors in “alternative level of care” beds in hospitals waiting for long term care and reduced wait times for those getting support at home who need a higher level of care.

“Ending hallway medicine requires integrated solutions across the continuum of care, and it’s great to see that the government is taking action to make this happen. We’re excited about today’s commitment to helping seniors, and we look forward to working closely with the government on the implementation details and on ensuring that the beds are allocated where they are most needed,” added Levin.

AdvantAge Ontario is the trusted voice for senior care. We are the only provincial organization representing the full spectrum of community-based seniors’ care, including long term care, retirement and supportive housing, life-lease housing, social housing and community services.

Debbie Humphreys
AdvantAge Ontario
905-851-8821
dhumphreys@advantageontario.ca