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Romano campaign sums up plan for 'better' senior care

Part one of a five-part series, apparently
20170516 Ross Romano Steelworkers Debate KA 0
Ross Romano, candidate for the PC Party of Ontario, speaks during a steelworker debate May 16, 2017 at the Marconi Club in this file photo. Kenneth Armstrong/SooToday

NEWS RELEASE

ROSS ROMANO

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Ross Romano started the campaign with one promise; To fight for the people of Sault Ste. Marie. To fight for better care for our seniors; more affordable hydro; better health care; jobs; and meaningful change.

Over the next five days, the Romano team will summarize the plan he has been discussing these past six months at your doors starting with better care for our seniors.

Sault Ste. Marie is facing a very serious demographic challenge. The city has one of the oldest populations in the province. Seniors must wait years for placement in local seniors care homes.

The Assistive Devices Program which paid for items like motorized wheel chairs, walkers and canes has been cut by $20 million and Physiotherapy services cut by $50 million.

The daily food budget for a senior in long term care is $8.33 per day, while the budget to feed a prisoner in Ontario is $9.73 per day. We pay more to feed prisoners than we do our seniors.

More than one billion dollars of the total home care budget is spent on administration and management.

“I will fight to correct these injustices,” explained Romano:

  1. “Let’s build a plan that cuts red tape and provides local people with the flexibility to respond to the demand for long term care spaces as the needs arise rather than waiting for Toronto experts to decide what is needed here and when. This will free up space in the health care system and save money which will be used to let front line workers do what they do best.”

  2. “I will work to have the amount of money spent on management and bureaucracy in the home care budget reduced and redirect those funds to the front lines.”

  3. “More home care workers and more home care supports for those who wish to remain in their homes longer will be a priority.”

  4. “Increased funding for the Assistive Devices Program to support seniors is necessary, especially seniors who want to remain in their own homes longer .”

“We need improved access to safe, secure and compassionate spaces for those suffering from severe dementia so their caregivers have the support they need to care for them while everyone remains safe.” 

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