September 1, 2007

BARRIE – Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman celebrated the raising of the daily raw food allowance to $7.00 a day for long-term care homes, by sharing a meal with residents of Victoria Village in Barrie.

“Today’s increase is a crucial step towards improving the quality of life of long-term care residents,” said Smitherman. “Their health and well-being will be directly affected by the new and diverse foods they will now be served.”

Long-term care homes are receiving an additional $25.4 million in funding for raw food this year. This represents a total increase of 33.6 per cent since July 2003. On average, long-term care homes spend about $18.76 daily in providing food to each resident. This includes the cost of raw food as well as preparation and staffing costs.

In January 2005, the government introduced a regulation to ensure that resident meal plans are reviewed and approved by a dietitian.

This is just one more example of how, working together, Ontarians have achieved results in health care services in long-term care homes. Other initiatives include :

• Increasing funding for long-term care by nearly $800 million since 2003;
• Funding 6,100 new front-line staff in long-term Care homes, including 2,300 nurses;
• Opening 7,712 new long-term care beds since October 2003;
• Enhancing the quality of life for residents of long-term care homes by passing the Long-Term Care Homes Act 2007 to strengthen enforcement and improve care.

Today’s initiative is part of the McGuinty government’s plan for innovation in public health care, building a system that delivers on three priorities – keeping Ontarians healthy, reducing wait times and providing better access to doctors and nurses.

For further information :

Members of the general public :
416-327-4327, or 1-866-532-3161

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