Almost two dozen local long-term care homes are sharing more than $5.2 million in provincial funding to help keep COVID-19 out during the second wave.
Chatham-Kent-Leamington MPP Rick Nicholls said the extra money will strengthen measures at the homes to help protect vulnerable residents and staff from the virus by covering the cost for extra screening at the door for staff and essential caregivers. It will also cover costs of the on-going screening of residents to catch the virus earlier and contain new infections.
The new funding will also allow long-term care homes to hire new staff to handle the extra workload and/or replace the workers who are either sick or in isolation. Extra cleaning, equipment, and operating supplies will also be covered along with stronger and more effective infection control measures.
Nicholls is critical of those who say the province is sitting on billions of dollars provided by the federal government. He said most of that money has been spent and there's a little left over for unexpected expenses. The NDP has criticized the Ford government for sitting on $12 billion in COVID-19 funds.
"That's total fallacy. All of that money with the exception of $2.6 billion has been allocated already," said Nicholls. "The $2.6 billion has to last us until the end of March (end of fiscal year) and you don't blow all of your money until your needs are addressed."
The NDP is also pointing to a report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives showing the provincial government in Ontario is spending less per person on the pandemic (just $612) compared to Quebec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and B.C. which have each spent more. The report also shows that Ontario has by far the most money sitting in unallocated pandemic relief funds compared to any other province or territory.
The province has also launched recruitment and training drives to address staffing shortages in long-term care and create more than 27,000 new positions for personal support workers, registered nurses and registered practical nurses. Nicholls said the provincial government is trying to fix the long-term care staffing problem and he is confident the province can reach the new staffing goal with fast-tracking programs at colleges and universities, promoting the jobs in high school, and filling some with those looking for a second career.
"In some cases we're going to have to fast-track them and we're working with colleges and universities right now," Nicholls said.
Homes in Chatham-Kent-Leamington receiving additional funding include: Blenheim Community Village, Copper Terrace, Franklin Gardens Long Term Care Home, Leamington Mennonite Home Long Term Care Residence, Meadow Park Nursing Home, Riverview Gardens, Sun Parlor Home for Senior Citizens, Tilbury Manor Nursing Home, and Village on the Ridge. Fairfield Park Nursing Home in Wallaceburg is also receiving an additional $93,300 to bring the total prevention and containment support since the start of the pandemic to $395,700.
Homes in Essex receiving additional funding include: Chartwell Royal Oak Long Term Care Residence, Country Village Homes, Iler Lodge, and Richmond Terrace.
Homes in Windsor-Tecumseh receiving additional funding include: Riverside Place and The Village of Aspen Lake.
Homes in Windsor West receiving additional funding include: Berkshire Care Centre, Chateau Park Long Term Care Home, Extendicare Southwood Lakes, Huron Lodge Long Term Care Home, Regency Park Long Term Care Home, and The Village at St. Clair.
Meantime, Chatham-Kent Public Health (CKPH) reported on Tuesday afternoon the remainder of the COVID-19 vaccine left over from Monday was administered at Meadow Park in Chatham in the afternoon and approximately half of the residents there are now vaccinated.
"In total, we have exhausted our initial shipment in just over 24 hours time and we look forward to the next shipment where we aim to meet the provincial deadline of February 5 in getting all CK residents in LTCHs (long-term care homes) their first dose," said Jeff Moco of CKPH Communications.