THUNDER BAY — Local agencies have received provincial funding to help with various degrees of respite care.
In an announcement Tuesday at Wesway, Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Kevin Holland announced that $2,686,600 in funding has been dispersed between Wesway, the Alzheimer's Society of Thunder Bay and the Meals on Wheels program.
Holland said the funding will help provide care in homes and alleviate the need to go to emergency rooms.
"[These] services that they are providing really help avoid hospitalization, emergency visits or admission into long-term care, and it's an integral piece of our health care system. So, to be able to provide that money and supporting them and the important work that they're doing is a good thing."
Dana MacMillan is the director of services at Wesway. She says this funding will allow caregivers a much-needed break.
"They also tell us it's exhausting, pressures can mount quickly, and so supporting this particular initiative will support caregivers to be able to get a break to sort of rest, rejuvenate so that they can continue on in their vital role of supporting the individuals that they are supporting at home."
Wesway currently has a waitlist of 270 families who've been waiting for services across northwestern Ontario. This funding will clear the wait-list and provide assistance to families in the region.
Alzheimer's Society of Thunder Bay received $90,100, Meals on Wheels was allocated $50,000 and Wesway got the bulk of the one-time funding at $2,546,500.
