|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, Ontario Division, is pleased to provide its perspective and recommendations into the development of Ontario’s Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the brain and spinal cord. MS is most often diagnosed in young adults – individuals who are finishing school, starting careers and beginning families. A diagnosis of MS impacts the entire family, and society as a whole. Canada has one of the highest rates of MS in the world. There are between 55,000 – 75,000 Canadians who have been diagnosed with MS; 21,000 – 29,000 of these individuals reside in Ontario. Living with MS is often a struggle. While the disease is highly variable and unpredictable, over time, most people with MS find it difficult to maintain fulltime employment and need increased medical care and supports such as home care and supportive housing. Some – fortunately a relative few – will no longer be able to remain in their own homes and will have to seek institutional care. As people with MS move through the continuum of care housing and long-term care are inextricably linked. Because of this, the development of a supportive housing strategy must include strategies to “bridge the gap” between supportive housing and long-term care, to provide the necessary infrastructure – and checks and balances - to ensure that people who could live well in supportive housing environments have access to appropriate housing options. Furthermore, more must be done to ensure that those individuals who must move on to long-term care facilities are still made to feel at home.
MS Society recommendations:
BackgroundAccess to supportive housing in Ontario is extremely limited. Waitlists of between 3 to 10 years have been reported in communities across Ontario. This is simply too long for individuals who face housing and care crises. In Budget 2009, the Government of Ontario announced more than $360 million to help create new affordable housing for low-income seniors and persons with disabilities. In 2009, the federal government also committed to providing $75 million over two years for the construction of social housing units for persons with disabilities. The MS Society applauds these initiatives and encourages both levels of governments to continue to invest in affordable housing. However, these dollars must not only create affordable housing, but also affordable supportive and accessible housing to help people with disabilities remain active and engaged in their communities by providing the care and support they need in their homes. Even with future improvements to supportive housing, some young adults with MS may still require institutional care. Right now, far too many young Ontarians end up in long term care facilities or nursing homes that were designed for frail elderly residents, which do not have the services and activities that would benefit younger disabled people. According to the Canadian Institute on Health Information (CIHI), in 2005–2006, just over one in six patients (17%) who received treatment in Ontario complex continuing care hospital beds was between 19 and 64 years old, and 56% (2,276 individuals) of this group had neurological conditions. Young adults with MS made up 10% (228 individuals) of the neurological group. This is of particular concern to the MS Society because of the early age of onset for MS. An individual with MS who enters a long-term care facility designed for the frail and elderly at 35 years of age may remain there for 40 years or more. Age-inappropriate living conditions often result in anxiety, depression, and longer-term mental health issues that increase the already complex health needs of these individuals. Depending on age and level of care requirements, long-term care can be a more expensive way to care for people with MS – and other people with disabilities – than supportive housing. Opportunities for ChangeThe Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Agreement is a vehicle through which to provide more stable funding for supportive housing for people with disabilities. People with disabilities have not been included in recent funding announcements associated with the Agreement, although they are included in the target groups of the Agreement. The Agreement provides longer-term funding security for housing projects than do year-by-year budget announcements. The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing is developing a 10 Year Affordable Housing Strategy. The development of supportive and accessible affordable housing is within the scope of this strategy. Through the Long-Term Care Renewal Strategy, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care MOHLTC) will redevelop 35,000 long-term care beds – 3,500 beds annually - over 10 years to “ensure equitable access to quality long-term care home accommodation”1. The Ministry will work with Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs) to prioritize renewal projects. MOHLTC is currently considering a number of policy and program design decisions, and the MS Society asks that they incorporate the needs of young people in long-term care into their province-wide planning activities. The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care is also creating new long-term care regulations. To date, the proposed regulations have not specifically addressed the issue of age. Detailed RecommendationsSpecifically, we call on the Government of Ontario to:
Thank you for the opportunity to provide input into the development of Ontario’s Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy. For more information please contact: Kim Steele Phone: 416- 922-6600 ext. 2243 1As taken from www.health.gov.on.ca/english/providers/program/
© Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada
Multiple Sclerosis Living with MS Research Treatments Donate Now Get Involved Special Events Home About Us Advocacy Media Contact Us Site Map Privacy Français
|
| |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
