Released on February 14, 1995
Health Minister Lorne Calvert today announced additional funding of$20.3 million for health services in communities which, when combined
with other initiatives, represents an annual investment of $140
million.
"This investment represents the beginning of a new era in health
services in communities," Calvert said.
The new funding includes $5 million added to the current year and $15.3
million in 1995-96. Calvert said it will help provide new and expanded
health services in communities and create approximately 460 jobs,
primarily for nurses, home care aides, therapists and counsellors.
Calvert said a large portion of the new funds will go toward expanding
home care, such as nursing and personal care and homemaking. This will
ensure that health districts are able to offer expanded services to
their residents, with the following results:
ù by July 1, following consultation with the health districts, home
care fees will be reduced by an average of 17 per cent;
ù home care will be available to meet urgent or planned needs any
time, day or night; and,
ù thousands of additional people, including seniors and disabled
people, will be able to remain more independent and vital in their
homes instead of in institutional care.
"As well, added support will be provided to families who are caring for
an aging or disabled relative," Calvert said. "There will be twice as
many respite beds and increased day programs to ensure care givers can
get relief when needed."
The minister said that those caring for terminally ill relatives at
home will also get coverage for more of their supplies and pay lower
fees for services such as homemaking.
Calvert said other health services in communities will be expanded by
health districts, including:
ù rehabilitation services such as physio and occupational therapy;
ù teams of professionals in the fields of mental health, alcohol and
drug counselling and addictions services; and,
ù improved health co-ordination and information to residents of all
districts.
"These initiatives, combined with the transfer of staff to districts
from Saskatchewan Health and programs already under way in the
districts, represent the most comprehensive and people-sensitive
approach to community-based health in Canada," Calvert said.
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For more information, contact:
Mark Seland
Saskatchewan Health
Regina
Phone: 787-3825
Health Services In Communities Fact Sheet
EXPANDED HOME CARE SERVICES
The focus of our health system is being broadened to include a wider
range of home care and wellness programs.
The 1995-96 provincial budget includes $7 million to expand home care
services for our residents. The effects will vary based on the needs
in each health district, but in general will:
ù allow thousands more seniors, disabled people and others to get
services such as nursing, homemaking, personal care or meal
preparation in their homes; this helps them remain more independent
and avoid admission to hospitals or special-care homes;
ù ensure that people will be able to access service at night or on
weekends to meet urgent or planned needs; for example, a home care
aide may return home with a patient who comes into emergency during
the night; and,
ù enable people to return home from hospitals sooner; for example,
someone who needs daily intravenous medicine could get treatments at
home with help from a nurse instead of having to be in hospital.
An additional $1.5 million, recently added to the 1994-95 budget, will
be allocated to health districts to help ease the transition to
community-based services. This will ensure security for residents of
long-term care homes by:
ù providing the funding to help offset lost revenue from unused beds
in long-term care homes; this will assist districts in making a
managed shift from institutional to community-based services;
residents who want to remain in care homes in their communities will
be secure.
Health Services In Communities Fact Sheet
REDUCED FEES
The 1995-96 provincial budget contains an extra $1.75 million to reduce
costs for families who are receiving home care or caring for someone
who is terminally ill.
This is part of a new era of health renewal. It gives people easier
access to services in their homes instead of relying on institutional
care by:
ù reducing home care fees by 17 per cent on average, as of July 1,
1995; current maximum fees range from $57 to $345 a month,
depending on the amount of services people use and their income
level; district health boards will help develop a provincial policy
on how to implement the reduction; it could be targeted to certain
types of clients or services;
ù ensuring terminally ill people who are receiving care at home will
have more supplies covered by Saskatchewan Health; a policy
announced last year already allows these people to receive many
supplies without charge; further expansion may take place in July,
1995, after talks with health districts; and,
ù reducing financial barriers to receiving home care.
Health Services In Communities Fact Sheet
EXPANDED REHABILITATION SERVICES
To help increase access to health services in communities across the
province, an additional $4.3 million is being spent on rehabilitation
services ($2 million in 1994-95 and $2.3 million in 1995-96).
This is in addition to $1.5 million for the prevention and treatment of
gambling addictions announced recently. The new expanded
rehabilitation services will mean:
ù a broader range of services will be available to people in their
communities; this includes mental health, physical and occupational
therapy, drug and alcohol addiction counselling and health
education;
ù in many cases, these services may be provided by teams of
professionals who travel to where the services are needed;
ù better services for people who have multiple health needs; many
will be able to remain at home instead of in institutional care;
and,
ù rehabilitation services to help promote preventive health and well
being for all residents.
Health Services In Communities Fact Sheet
SUPPORT FOR CARE GIVERS
As home care services expand, more of our seniors and disabled
residents will have the freedom to remain in their own homes instead of
in institutional care. Families and friends who choose to help care
for their loved ones need a break from time to time. Supporting care
givers is a key part of the second phase of health renewal.
To increase respite services across the province an additional $2.5
million will be allocated; $1.5 million in 1994-95 and a further $1
million in the 1995-96 budget by:
ù increasing the funds for home respite services, double the number of
respite beds and create more day programs across the province; this
will provide more relief for family care givers, including spouses
or children of seniors, and parents of children with severe
disabilities; it will ensure they can have the freedom to go on
holidays or just have a break;
ù providing support in people's homes or through respite services in a
special care home; these care homes will make more beds available,
due to the increased level of health services in communities; and,
ù providing access to respite services in the evenings or on week-ends
will be improved.
Health Service In Communities Fact Sheet
EASIER ACCESS TO SERVICES
The goal of the second phase of health renewal is to provide people
with a wider range of health services as close to home as possible.
But it's important that people know what services are available and how
to access the right ones at the right time.
To increase access to this information and services in all health
districts, $3.25 million will be provided in 1995-96. Easier access to
services will:
ù identify methods to meet district needs to provide ease of access to
information; for example, districts may offer information through a
central telephone number, health centres, or a health facilitator;
ù enable better co-ordination of services and help match people with
the services that are appropriate for their needs; and,
ù assist consumers with specific concerns through access to a quality
of care co-ordinator.