The provincial government is dishing out more funds to help seniors stay healthy and fit. Courtesy photos.
The province is investing almost $30,000 in two seniors centre to help them stay fit and healthy.
The funds are being distributed to the Franklin Horner Community Centre and Islington Seniors’ Centre as part of a $3.7 million Ontario investment to help centres deliver in-person and virtual programs.
The programs are for those aged 55 and older to keep fit, active and socially connected to their communities.
MPP Christine Hogarth said the government’s 2024 Fall Economic Statement increased funding for all Seniors Active Living Centres from up to $42,700 to up to $55,000 to ensure they have the support they need to continue providing seniors services and activities.
Several area seniors care and palliative care centres are receiving badly-needed funding.
Minister of Seniors and Accessibility Raymond Cho said the centres will receive $1 million more for this year over last year.
Due to the success of Seniors Active Living Centres (SALC) the government is investing up to $17 million to expand the number of SALCs by 100 across Ontario from 316 to 416.
The move will increase services for seniors and those with disabilities in underserved communities.
The Ontario government is also enhancing access to compassionate, community-based end-of-life care by adding new hospice beds under the Dorothy Ley Hospice banner.
This initiative is part of a broader provincial effort to expand palliative care services, with 84 new adult hospice beds being added across Ontario. Once operational, these additions will increase the total number of publicly funded hospice beds in the province to 768.
The Ontario government will allocate an additional $16 million annually to fund the operation of these new beds once they are open.
Dorothy Ley Hospice will receive five more beds at its Kipling Acres site, three more at Humber River and two beds at Hospice Mississauga.