Ontario Brings More Health Services Directly to Long-Term Care Homes
Ontario is making it easier for seniors in long-term care to receive medical testing and diagnostic services without leaving their homes. Two new programs launching in York Region aim to reduce unnecessary hospital visits while providing better care for residents.
New Diagnostic Services at Your Doorstep
The Community Paramedicine for Long-Term Care Plus program allows specially trained paramedics to perform various diagnostic tests right inside long-term care facilities. These services include blood work, ultrasound examinations, and urinalysis testing that previously required trips to hospitals or clinics.
Alongside this program, the province is investing $6 million across Ontario through the Equipment and Training Fund. This funding helps long-term care homes purchase diagnostic equipment and train their staff to use it effectively. The focus is on detecting and preventing conditions that most commonly lead to avoidable hospital visits, such as urinary tract infections, falls, pneumonia, and heart problems.
Expanding Access Across the Region
York Region Paramedic Services will oversee the new paramedicine program in nine local long-term care homes. This initiative is part of a broader provincial rollout that includes six regions across Ontario, demonstrating the government's commitment to bringing healthcare services closer to where seniors live.
The Equipment and Training Fund has already supported more than 700 projects at nearly 220 homes across the province in its first year. This success has prompted continued investment to expand the program's reach and impact.
How Psychologists Support This Care Model
Psychologists play an important role in this enhanced care approach for long-term care residents. As diagnostic services become more readily available within facilities, psychologists can work more effectively with healthcare teams to address the mental health aspects of chronic conditions and medical procedures.
Many seniors experience anxiety or depression related to their health conditions or the stress of frequent medical testing. Psychologists can help residents develop coping strategies for managing these feelings, particularly when dealing with ongoing health monitoring or new diagnoses.
The convenience of having diagnostic services on site can reduce the psychological stress that many seniors feel about medical appointments. Psychologists can help residents adjust to new care routines and maintain their emotional well being as their health needs evolve.
Additionally, psychologists working in long-term care settings can collaborate with the expanded medical team to ensure that mental health considerations are integrated into overall care planning. This holistic approach recognizes that physical and mental health are closely connected, especially for older adults managing multiple health conditions.
Benefits for Residents and Families
This expanded diagnostic capability means residents can receive faster results and more timely treatment for common health issues. Rather than waiting for transport to external facilities or enduring the stress of hospital visits, seniors can receive many essential health services in familiar surroundings.
For families, this development provides peace of mind knowing their loved ones can access necessary medical testing without the complications and risks associated with frequent trips outside the care facility. The programs also help ensure that minor health issues are caught early, before they develop into more serious conditions requiring emergency intervention.
The initiative reflects Ontario's broader strategy to fix long-term care by improving staffing, enhancing quality and enforcement, building modern facilities, and connecting seniors with faster access to the services they need. The province is investing $4.9 billion to create thousands of new positions for personal support workers and nurses in long-term care, while also building 58,000 new and upgraded long-term care beds across Ontario.
By bringing diagnostic services directly to where seniors live, these programs represent a shift toward more convenient, resident centered care that prioritizes both physical health and quality of life for Ontario's aging population.
