The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is increasing rates for home support agencies that provide support to seniors, children, and adults with disabilities who require personal and behavioural assistance to maintain individual independence at home.
The Honourable Tom Osborne, Minister of Health and Community Services, will be available to media to discuss the increases today (Tuesday, October 3) in the West Block Lobby of Confederation Building at 11:30 a.m. Minister Osborne will be joined by Elizabeth Jenkins, President of the Home Care Association of Newfoundland and Labrador.
The Provincial Government is investing an additional $7.9 million in 2023-24 to support these rate increases, which will help ensure provision of high quality of care and will allow individuals who need support to live independently.
The Department of Health and Community Services, Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services, and the Home Care Association of Newfoundland and Labrador are working collaboratively to develop new Home Care Agency Standards and a Service Level Agreement that focus on increasing quality of services provided through the program.
Agencies that implement quality improvement initiatives related to the new standards and agreement will receive an additional increase.
A differential payment model for workers at home support agencies in Labrador will also be provided as per the Labrador Allowance in the Labrador Benefits Agreement.
Quotes
“This is another step our government is taking to improve care for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. Increasing the hourly rates will ensure that home support agencies continue providing a high quality of care, allowing them to support individuals who need support to live independently.”
Honourable Tom Osborne
Minister of Health and Community Services
“On behalf of the membership of the Home Care Association of Newfoundland & Labrador, we would like to thank the Department of Health and Community Services for their continued support of the Home Care industry. The department and association have been working collaboratively over the past number of years on quality improvements, revised operational standards and new service level agreements. These changes enable agencies to continue supporting home care recipients in the province, allowing them to age in place, happily in their homes. We look forward to continued collaboration with the department for long term sustainability of the industry.
Elizabeth Jenkins
President of the Home Care Association of Newfoundland and Labrador
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