The provincial government has announced that they will be investing 10 million dollars to help community organizations coordinate the delivery of meals, medicines and other necessities to seniors.
They will be working with grocers and pharmacists in order to provide and prioritize delivery orders and senior only shopping hours.
Premier Doug Ford says “We take seriously the advice of Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, and we’re working to put an iron ring of protection around our seniors from COVID-19.”
He adds, “I know asking our seniors to stay at home will not be easy as it will mean inconvenience, isolation and significant change in routine. That’s why we are encouraging everyone to reach out and support them, whether it’s delivering their prescriptions or picking up the phone and giving them a call. It will all make a positive difference to our most vulnerable citizens.”
This investment is in addition to the 20 million dollars over 2 years the government invested to protect seniors in retirement homes through increased infection control and active screening procedures and 243 million dollars for long term care homes to support 24/7 screening, additional staffing, enhanced cleaning and sanitation and additional surge capacity.
The provincial government will be implementing a new emergency order that will make sure staff have all the resources they need in order to care for residents by allowing homes to redirect their staff and financial resources to essential tasks.
