|
McGuinty Government
increases support for McKay Centre in Goderich -
August 28, 2007
$12,700 Increase To Boost Programs And Services For Goderich’s
Seniors
GODERICH — The first substantial increase in provincial funding for
elderly persons' centres in two decades means Goderich’s seniors will
have access to better programs and services, Huron-Bruce MPP Carol
Mitchell announced today.
The McKay Centre for Seniors will receive additional funding of $12,700
thanks to a new McGuinty government initiative to increase support to
elderly persons' centres, Mitchell said. That brings total provincial
funding for the centre to $42,700.
“This additional funding will enrich social and recreational programs so
that our older adults can stay active, healthy and involved in
Goderich,” said Mitchell. “By responding to the needs of care homes in
our communities, we are helping to make certain that all seniors will
receive the dedicated, compassionate care they deserve.”
“We are delighted the government is supporting seniors,” said Kathleen
Buckley, Coordinator for the McKay Centre. “This additional funding will
help benefit existing programs and also help us to develop new
programming at the centre”.
Elderly persons' centres provide recreational and social programs,
public education and support services for older Ontarians. They promote
wellness for 65,000 seniors through recreational, physical, social and
volunteer programs. “The McGuinty government is
committed to helping seniors live in safety, with dignity and respect,”
said Minister Responsible for Seniors Jim Bradley. “That is why we are
investing millions of dollars to help Ontario’s seniors improve the
quality of their lives.”
The province is providing increases to each of the 224 elderly persons'
centres across the province which are approved for funding.
The funding will improve services and programs, such as recreational
activities, nutritional counselling and public education about the many
other programs important to maintaining senior’s independence. It may
also be used to help upgrade facilities.
In addition, approximately 24 new approved elderly persons' centres will
be established later this year.
Today’s investment is in addition to the annual funding of $5.5 million
for the 224 approved elderly persons' centres across the province.
Provincial funding has remained essentially static since 1988 when the
Peterson government doubled the funding cap for individual centres to
$30,000 a year.
This is just one more example of how, working together, Ontarians are
achieving results to improve the quality of life for seniors. Other
McGuinty government initiatives to support seniors include:
-
Investing an additional $104.7 million in funding
for home care services, bringing the total funding for home care to
$1.54 billion for this year
-
Investing hundreds of millions of dollars to
reduce wait times for knee and hip joint replacements, cardiac care,
MRI and CT scans, cataract and cancer surgeries
-
Providing an additional $1.65 million over the
next two years for Ontario’s Strategy to Combat Elder Abuse.
- 30 -
Contacts:
Carol Mitchell, MPP
Huron-Bruce
519-482-5630 |
