Care services at risk of cuts
Additional $215M sought from province to address growing demand
Ontarians who access home care and community support could be facing significant service cuts this year.
The cuts could result in nearly one million fewer hours of community services provided and threaten access to programs like Meals on Wheels, according to a recent survey conducted by the Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA), which represents more than 220 non-profit home care and community support organizations.
The survey, completed by 82 member organizations, found that without urgent investment from the provincial government, there would be an average of 27 per cent of service reduction at community support service organizations in 2023.
This would mean more than 870,000 fewer hours of care like respite, personal support and homemaking services being delivered.
The cuts would result in over a half-million meals not reaching those in need, more than 200,000 fewer rides to medical appointments and more than 400,000 fewer interactions with clients, which could lead to increased isolation. This could lead to caregiver burnout and earlier admission to longterm care, the OCSA warned.
“The threat of reductions in service and increased wait lists essentially means that many Ontarians will no longer have access to the care they need,” OCSA chief executive Deborah Simon said in a press release. “We are calling on the province to address the situation as a matter of urgency and ensure that these services receive adequate funding in order to combat the impacts of inflation and increased operational costs.”
OCSA is calling for an additional $215 million on top of planned investments into home and community care from the province.
This would help address the growing demand for services and impact of inflation. It would also improve the health system and make for a better experience for Ontarians, the association said in a its survey report.
In a statement to the Star, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Health said Ontario has invested $1 billion more over the next three years to further expand home care. This will benefit nearly 700,000 families who rely on home care annually, they said, and help more people connect to care closer to home.
Ontario Health distributes funding to more than 500 agencies to provide different community support services, including Meals on Wheels programs and other community dining programs to ensure more Ontarians can stay in the comfort of their own homes, the statement continued.
Of the organizations that participated in OCSA’s survey, 66 per cent said they submitted their reduction in service volumes as part of their budget planning process with Ontario Health. Just over 20 per cent of the organizations noted they planned to increase wait-lists or client fees to offset service cuts.
“If nothing is done, this situation has real and harmful consequences for many Ontarians,” Simon said. “Clients and caregivers across the province are in danger of being without a critical service or having to be placed on an extended waitlist.”
The Star also reached out to the province’s Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility, but did not receive a response before deadline.