The new bilateral agreement funds initiatives to improve health care and support for seniors
Seamus O'Regan Jr., Minister of Labour and Seniors, alongside Mark Holland, Canada's Minister of Health, and Tom Osborne, Newfoundland and Labrador's Minister of Health and Community Services, has announced a $78m bilateral agreement.
This funding, to be allocated over the next five years, aims to support seniors in Newfoundland and Labrador. This funding builds on the $256m bilateral agreement announced in March.
“No matter where you live, every Canadian deserves access to safe and high-quality health care at every stage of their lives. By working together with Newfoundland and Labrador this agreement will help transform the health care system so that across the province seniors can get the care they need,” said Holland.
Federal funding will support Newfoundland and Labrador’s five-year action plan to improve health care for seniors. The plan will:
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Improve home and community care systems by hiring additional clinical staff, utilizing technology for new service delivery models, and supporting individuals with dementia through new community-based care options.
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Enhance palliative and end-of-life care by supporting a new 10-bed community hospice in Grand Falls-Windsor and improving access to supports for individuals at end of life.
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Strengthen the workforce by establishing a geriatric medicine fellowship at Memorial University and funding wage increases for over 1500 personal support workers.
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Enhance the quality of care and quality of life through improved long-term care standards and implementing a person-centred care approach.
Progress on these initiatives will be measured against targets, with Newfoundland and Labrador reporting publicly on an annual basis.
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador will work with the Government of Canada to improve health information management, streamline foreign credential recognition, facilitate mobility of health professionals, and uphold the Canada Health Act.
Both governments commit to engaging with Indigenous partners to support access to quality and culturally appropriate health care services, informed by ongoing trilateral discussions.
Newfoundland and Labrador and the federal government will continue collaborating to enhance health services for seniors, addressing the needs of rural, remote, Indigenous, and other underserved populations.
“Seniors deserve to age with dignity and choice. So, they can age on their terms. A strong healthcare system lets seniors age on their own terms,” said O'Regan.
"The Aging with Dignity Action Plan allows us to continue to improve access to and quality of community supports and long-term care services for seniors. This agreement also aligns with Health Accord NL which identifies Aging Population as a priority,” said Osborne.
“By working together with our Federal partners and our stakeholders, Newfoundland and Labrador will continue to be a leader in modernizing and transforming health care, and so that our seniors can age with the dignity and respect they deserve.”
The Government of Canada is investing nearly $200bn over ten years, including $5.4bn for bilateral agreements with provinces and territories under the Aging with Dignity initiative.
