The McGuinty government hopes a new round of funding for long-term care homes will address the need for more time spent caring for residents.
Huron-Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell has announced almost $235,000 to be divided among 12 nursing homes in the riding.
The money will increase average paid hours of direct daily care for each resident to 3.26 hours.
It will also support new programming and support services.
Today’s announcement is part of a provincewide package of 23.3-million dollars to hire 2,500 personal support workers and 2,000 nurses across Ontario by 2011.
The measure was announced in this year’s provincial budget.
The Service Employees International Union has been critical of funding levels for long-term care homes, saying Ontario has the lowest minimum standares of care anywhere in the western world.
Unions and homes for the aged in Huron County have been lobbying for 3.5 hours of care per resident per day.
