Aging at Home

Aging at Home Year 2 – Project Funding

As part of the successful Aging at Home program, the Toronto Central LHIN announced $15.4 million for 2009/10 to help seniors receive needed health services in the comfort and dignity of their own homes and communities, instead of in hospital. The Aging at Home program combines traditional health services – such as home care and supportive housing – with new, locally-driven, innovative approaches to caring for seniors.

This year’s investment is an increase of $9.2 million over 2008/09.

The announcement was made by Dr. Dennis Magil, Vice Chair of the Toronto Central LHIN Board of Director on May 19, 2009, at WoodGreen Community Services. Other speakers included Dr. Alan Hudson, Provincial Executive Lead, Access to Services and Wait Time Strategy, Jane Piccolotto, Director of Community Care and Wellness for Seniors, WoodGreen Community Services, Heba Sadek, Head of Health, Flemingdon Health Centre, and Sujata Gangulli, Executive Director, St. Clair West Service for Seniors.

To access a webcast of the news conference, please visit:
http://www.vvcnetwork.ca/lhin/20090519/

Aging at Home Year Two - Call for proposals Status Update

This year's Aging at Home (AAH) Call for Proposals resulted in 75 submissions requesting a total of $44.5 million in 09/10 project funding. The Toronto Central LHIN's Year 2 AAH uncommitted funding allocation is approximately $6.5 million.

The Year 2 AAH strategy focuses on the highest need and most marginalized seniors, specifically those with dementia, mental illness and/or addictions and those who are homeless or at-risk of being homeless. In support of the provincial ER/ ALC strategy the Year 2 Aging at Home investment plan has a particular focus on diverting seniors from avoidable ER visits where appropriate, and on helping to transition seniors out of hospital and ALC beds to a more appropriate level of care.

Evaluation Process

Proposals were carefully reviewed using a comprehensive evaluation process that considered:

• Adherence to criteria and considerations listed in the Toronto Central LHIN H-SIP Manual
• Alignment with Toronto Central LHIN priorities
• Support of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care's provincial priorities
• Support of the Year 2 AAH program requirements as stated in the Call for Proposals
• Targeting to one or more priority neighbourhoods, as identified by the Toronto Central LHIN

Throughout the review, the LHIN focused on identifying Year 2 proposals that build on current LHIN projects and investments, including those from Year 1, in order to maximize impacts and effectively develop a continuum of care for marginalized seniors.

Timelines

 
Only successful applicants were contacted in January to commence the negotiation process. Unsuccessful applicants will have their proposals kept on file and considered during subsequent H-SIP reviews for a period of up to one year following date of submission. The LHIN will be sharing details regarding the successful Year Two initiatives following final approvals from the ministry in late spring.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all applicants for the time taken to prepare their submissions. The degree of innovation, partnerships and integration initiatives underway in our LHIN was clearly evident in the proposals received. These proposals will continue to help identify local health system gaps and will remain a valuable source of innovative ideas for health system improvement. We encourage applicants to nurture the partnerships established and to further explore integration opportunities.