Largest investment in Canadian history will help long-term care combat Covid-19
TORONTO, December 2, 2020 – CanAge, Canada’s national seniors’ advocacy organization, congratulates the federal government for its commitments to seniors and long-term care in Supporting Canadians and Fighting COVID-19: Fall Economic Statement 2020.
“We are thrilled to see support announced in direct alignment with our policy platform, The VOICES of Canada’s Seniors: A Roadmap to an Age-Inclusive Canada,” says Laura Tamblyn Watts, CEO of CanAge.
The government’s largest investment for long-term care in Canadian history includes new national standards and a $1 billion Safe Long-term Care Fund to help with Covid-19 response. These are recommendations echoed in CanAge’s VOICES policy platform, released in mid-2020.
“This is a start to the investment we need in long-term care, but there is much more to do,” says Tamblyn Watts. “We hope to see more and more congruence between our policy platform and government.”
Other announcements from the Fall Economic Statement that are also CanAge recommendations include a $38.5 million investment over two years to train 4,000 personal support workers and address staffing shortages, a $1 million investment to work with third parties and conduct readiness assessments and training on infection prevention and control, and prioritizing healthcare workers seeking asylum to provide a pathway to permanent residency.
CanAge is Canada’s national seniors advocacy organization that works to advance the rights and well-being of Canadians as we age. We work collaboratively with corporations, nonprofits, the media, and governments to amplify seniors issues, influence policy and effect change. To learn more, visit www.canage.ca.
For more information or to book an interview:
Lisa Hartford
Communications Director
CanAge
lisa@canage.ca or call 647.466.8053