Agassiz’s senior centres are among the facilities to receive a portion of a $6.9 million grant for long-term care homes all across the province for the purchase of new equipment for added safety and quality of life for their residents.
Agassiz Seniors Community and Glenwood Seniors Community were listed as benefiting from the grant, the B.C. Ministry of Health announced in a statement released on Friday afternoon.
“Dignity, comfort, and security are what people and their loved ones expect and deserve when they are in long-term care,” said Minister of Health Adrian Dix. “Government is investing in these long-term care homes by adding new and replacement items, like beds and mattresses, and ceiling lifts and sensory rooms, so people can feel comfortable in their surroundings and enjoy their home-like setting.”
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This final round of funding is a part of a bigger $10 million fund provided over the course of three years to 186 long-term care homes across the province to purchase more than 8,000 new items – everything from shower chairs to mobility equipment to music therapy and more. The funding came through The B.C. Care Providers Association (BCCPA) and their Senior Safety and Quality Improvement Program (SSQIP). An advisory board oversees the funding disbursal, and those approved after the application process can receive up to $500 per publicly-funded bed.
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“We’re pleased to continue working with the Ministry of Health and other partners through this final round of SSQIP funding” BCCPA CEO Daniel Fontaine said. “The investments are aimed at creating more supportive environments for residents in long-term care and reducing injury rates among the workers who care for them.”
The provincial government also provided $240 million over the course of three years to increase staffing levels in long-term care homes with its final year ending in 2021.
adam.louis@ahobserver.com
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