HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1989-12-20, Page 48Page 48 Times -Advocate, December 20, 1989
Visiting Santa - The Grade one class at the Grand Bend Public
School paid a visit to Santa who was at the Bank of Montreal Friday.
Among the first in line were; from left, Niki Vermuelen, Lyndsay Har-
rison, Jeremiah Brenner, Jason Monteith, Patricia Pearce, Jamie
Sandwith, St. Nick.
5&.I s ,ottings
By Jack Riddell
MPP Huron
,Ontario government makes firm commitments for reform of
long term care
On behalf of the Minister of Health and the Ministers Responsible
for Disabled Persons and Senior Citizens Affairs, Community and
Social Services Minister, Charles Beer recently announced the gov-
ernment's comprehensive reform of Long Term Care. The reform is
designed to maintain the independence of Ontario's seniors and peo-
ple with physical disabilities, support their family caregivers and
strengthen the ability of communities toplan and manage responsive
services.
Its approach is consistent with the work of the Premier's Council
on Health Strategy which has called for enhanced community-based
support and better co-ordination of health and social services. The
government has consulted with people who use and provide the ser-
vices in communities throughout Ontario, discussed its directions
with provincial organizations and held an internal review to make
sure those plans are both viable and affordable.
The government will create new service access agencies to simpli-
fy both .the process of finding appropriate in-home services and the
process of having someone admitted to a long term care facility.
Through these agencies, people will be able to find the help they
need in one place instead of going through a long period of search-
ing for the answer through a myriad of sources.
A new funding system will also be introduced for all homes for
the aged and all nursing homes. Under the new system, payments
will vary, depending on the level of care required by residents in the
home. .
To avoid administrative confusion and duplication, the Ministries
of Health and Community and Social Services are establishing a sin-
gle inter -ministry structure to manage the reformed long term care
system, both provincially and at the local level. An Assistant Deputy
Minister of Community. Services has been appointed and will report
jointly to that ministry and the Ministry of Health.
A fully integrated in-home support program for seniors and dis-
abled people will be developed. This new program will provide a
wide array of services to assist people to be independent in their
homes.
Existing services like the Ministry of Health's Home Care Pro-
gram and the Ministry of Community and Social Services' Integrated
Homemaker Program, will be brought together, as the core of a new
consolidated in-home support program. As a result, services will be
available with fewer barriers between agencies, ministries and pro-
fessions.
Finally, home support services run by community agencies, like
Meals on Wheels and Friendly Visiting, will be expanded. A more
complete range of services will be developed throughout the prov-
ince,
rovince, looking toward greater multicultural involvement.
Implementation of changes will.begin in some communities by the
fall of 1990. Long term care legislation is also being prepared for
presentation to the House at that same time.
The Ontario government will continue to seek the input of consu-
mers, providers and communities. It will also work closely with mu-
nicipalities, continuing the co-operation already established by the
Provincial -Municipal Social Services Review. .
Presently, the Ontario government is working on a detailed strate-
gic plan, which it plans to release early next spring. Its release will
signal the beginning of intensive provincial and local consultation
and planning.
Some aspects of the consultation process will start immediately.
Within the next few Weeks, committees will be established made up
of government, service providers and consumers, to help the govern-
ment establish detailed policies in four k_ areas.
These four areas are: a new classification system to aid in making
funding decisions for Nursing Homes and Homes for the Aged; the
design of the new community and in-home service; and the role of
chronic care facilities within the reformed long term care system.
Reform of such scope will not be easy, but the result will be a
much improved system of long term care. It will support and
strengthen opportunities for community living, so that senior citi-
zens and people with disabilities will be better able to remain in
their homes and communities, close to family and friends. Above
all, reform will ensure the dignity of those citizens .who require sup-
port.
as asaO Wei aaieis aOPTAs ..ai,,.
TheJogof
Christmas
Goes
On Forever
What better time
to say thanks to you
for your support?
Have a very happy holiday.
IDCONTRAC CONTRACTING
235-0941
Harold DeVries
'Qpality 'Workmanship at a T(easonaf(e Price'
nartyonn.w.rm..411,4.we.M.r13rr11$ 01411,451Mtlardyart +nn.,nonloll lova art W ill%o V
Lucan seniors enjoy
LUCAN - The Lucan Seniors
held their Christmas party in the
Legion Hall on Thursday Decem-
ber 4.
Our president met us with a
"Merry Christmas". As we entered
the hall, we were met with a beau-
tiful Christmas setting.
The fireplace was burning, the
cat sleeping before the fire. A
Christmas tree on one side of the
fireplace and a snowman on the
other side, a lovely old captain
chair was waiting for Santa to
come and rest awhile. Violin mu-
sic was being played by Mona
Mayberry.
At 12:30 a lovely Christmas din-
ner was served by the Legion Aux-
iliary ladies.
Christmas
Our entertainment began with
the singing of Christmas carols
played by Muriel Cobleigh.
We had a humorous reading read
by Audrey Hodgins "Come Share
the Bird - The Birds".
A skit "The Train to the Town
of Maura" was given by Hazel
Cunningham and Hamilton Hod -
art
a y
gins.
Our Christmas Gift Exchanges
was given out ty Audrey and Ha-
milton Hodgins and Hazel Cun-
ningham.
Dean Gibson thanked the ladies
for such a lovely dinner and Hamil-
ton thanked everyone for their part
they had taken in making it such a
lovely party.
1
As you and your family enjoy the festive season,
please accept our thanks for the gift of your
warm friendship and loyal patronage
Thank, you for your patronage in 1989
and we fookforward to serving you in 1990
The Management and staff
CARTER'S
FARM EQUIPMENT Sales & Service Ltd.
(2 1./2 miles North of Exeter)
R.R. #1 Hensall 263-3333
The Staff at W.G. Thompson 8Z Sons Ltd.
extend a special Thank -you
td all our good,;rrends and pc.trons
for your confidence, loyaltyand support...
a very Merry Christmas to all
and all the best in '90!
Seaforth 345-2545
Pt. Albert 529-7901
A
Hensall 262-2527
Ailsa Craig 293-3223
Mitchell 348-8433
Granton 225-2360
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