The project aims to help 100 senior patients who may otherwise have to leave their homes due to “increasing serious medical issues”. This program started with a pilot project last year out of the Access River East health center location. The results found that the patients they cared for reduced their hospital admissions by 50%, and further decreased emergency department visits.
Dr. Paul Sawchuk, who was involved in the pilot program, commented on the full program. “I expect that it will help people live better and longer in their homes and require hospital [sic] less.”
Manitoba has announced additional services for seniors in the province. They are introducing additional home-based rehabilitation services for seniors after strokes, injury, surgery, and more. They are also including services such as home safety assessments, adaptation recommendations, and fall prevention programs. The programs will cost $1.2 million a year to operate but aim to save the province hospital care costs.
Source: Winnipeg Free Press
