COMMUNITY WELLNESS AND SAFETY

Commitment 4.2.1: Support elders to live in their own homes for as long as possible and ensure adequate supports are available for those who can no longer do so by:

• Completing a review of existing programs in order to project over a 20-year period, policy and financial needs;
• Developing and implementing an action plan for enhanced home and community care services;
• Developing and implementing an action plan for expanded palliative care services;
• Developing financing options for long-term care facilities; and
• Proposing a regulatory framework for long term-care.

The Department completed a Long-Term Care Program (LTC) Review to assess the needs over the next 20 years. This included developing updated capital projections for long-term care and dementia beds and developing financing options for long-term care facilities along with a regulatory framework for long-term care. http://www.hss.gov.nt.ca/sites/default/files/nwt-long-term-care-program-review.pdf

There are currently 183 LTC beds in the system with an additional 27 becoming available with the opening of the Jimmy Erasmus Seniors Home and the Norman Wells LTC facility.

Funding has been approved by the Legislative Assembly for an additional 72 beds at the Old Stanton facility, 48 beds in Hay River as well as planning for additional beds in Inuvik.

In 2018, the Department plans to continue work on developing LTC financing options and a regulatory framework proposal.

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