A Uxbridge senior and a Durham Region community organization are calling on the Ontario government to increase funding for community support services, warning that inadequate funding could put seniors and vulnerable residents at risk.
The Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA) is urging the province to provide stronger financial support for services that help seniors and people with chronic illnesses receive care at home rather than in hospitals or long-term care facilities.
For Dorothy Murphy, a senior living in Uxbridge with Type 1 diabetes, community support services are essential to maintaining her health and independence. Murphy relies on accessible transportation services from Community Care Durham to attend medical appointments and remain connected to her community.
Murphy said transportation is critical for residents in smaller communities like Uxbridge, where public transportation and taxi services are limited.
“If I don’t have my drivers, I don’t go to my medical appointments,” Murphy said. “That could mean serious health consequences. It could even put my life at risk.”
She explained that many residents in rural communities must travel to other parts of Durham Region for medical care, as specialist services are often located in larger municipalities.
Murphy believes the province needs to increase funding to support the growing needs of an aging population.
“It’s an aging population,” she said. “They need to put more money into assisted transportation and support services.”
The Ontario Community Support Association, which represents more than 200 non-profit organizations across the province, says community care services are essential for helping seniors and people with chronic health conditions remain independent.
OCSA CEO Lori Holloway said investing in community-based care is both more effective and more affordable than relying on hospitals.
“The most effective, affordable and humane care happens in people’s homes and communities,” Holloway said. “That is where government investment must be focused.”
According to OCSA, keeping patients in hospitals longer due to insufficient community support services creates significant financial pressure on the health-care system.
The organization estimates that hospital care can cost between $730 and $1,000 per day, compared to approximately $200 per day for long-term care and about $103 per day for home and community care services.
OCSA is asking the province to commit to multi-year funding and invest $150 million annually to stabilize community support services across Ontario.
The association also says wages for community health workers need to improve, noting that these workers currently earn 23 to 46 percent less than hospital employees performing similar roles. The wage gap has made it difficult for organizations to recruit and retain staff.
In Durham Region, Community Care Durham provides services for individuals living with chronic health conditions and complex needs.
CEO Jim Cressos said the demand for services such as assisted transportation, adult day programs, and respite care is increasing rapidly as the region’s population grows and ages.
“We have a rapidly growing and aging population presenting with complex needs,” Cressos said. “Investments in home and community services are one of the most effective and cost-efficient ways to support people and help them remain in their homes.”
Without additional funding, organizations may be forced to make difficult decisions. According to OCSA, potential service reductions could include fewer meal delivery routes, reduced respite programs, closures of adult day programs, and fewer transportation services.
Ontario’s Ministry of Health says the province continues to invest heavily in the health-care system.
A spokesperson for Health Minister Sylvia Jones said the province is investing $3.1 billion in home and community care services, part of a broader $91.5 billion health-care budget this year.
Community organizations, however, say sustained and predictable funding will be essential to ensure that seniors and vulnerable residents continue receiving the support they need close to home.
