The Government of Nova Scotia has released its 2022-23 budget, entitled ‘Solutions for Healthcare, Solutions for Nova Scotians’.
The province is making major investments in health care spending, and is projecting a $500 M deficit.
Nova Scotia’s budget includes substantial targeted investments in seniors’ care, including long-term care, home care and health care. Funds are being committed to bolster staffing levels and increase one-on-one daily care for residents in long-term care to at least 4.1 hours, as well as build new beds across the province.
“Nova Scotia has really stepped up to improve seniors’ care in this new budget,” says Laura Tamblyn Watts, CEO of CanAge. “However, the province is still behind the ball on putting pandemic learnings into practice by expanding funding for the vaccines recommended for seniors against flu, shingles and pneumonia. Increasing vaccine uptake is critical to keeping our healthcare system running smoothly, older people safe and the economy moving.”
Immunization is proven to be the most important health care intervention, vastly reducing health care spending and lessoning burden on the system. CanAge’s recent report on adult vaccination across Canada scored Nova Scotia a grade of D- on immunizing seniors due to major gaps in vaccine funding, access and encouraging public confidence.
Highlights for older adults from the budget include
- $66.3 M to provide Continuing Care Assistants (CCA’s) with highest wages in Atlantic Canada
- $17.2 M to support recruitment, retention & training efforts in continuing care
- Tuition reimbursement for CCA’s and a targeted immigration strategy, including recognition of prior learning, work-and-learn opportunities and professional development
- $25.1 M to increase staffing levels to establish a standard of at least 4.1 hrs of 1:1 care per long-term care resident
- $15 M to continue additional staffing in long-term care due to COVID-19 public health directives
- $11 million to extend or convert more than 190 new long-term care spaces, including Veterans Affairs spaces, to help create more bed capacity and support patient flow
- $3 M more for workplace safety investments for long-term care staff
- $29.1 M for the Seniors Care Grant, which helps Nova Scotians 65+ stay in their homes longer