Horwath commits to Caregiver Benefit Program

Program will support people who care for loved ones aging or living with a disability at home

TRENTON — Andrea Horwath and an NDP government will create a Caregiver Benefit Program to help care for informal caregivers — those who regularly help a loved one who is aging or living with a disability in their own home or a retirement setting.

“Home is the healthiest, happiest place for many people as they age,” said Horwath. “I am committed to improving home care so people can live at home longer. But we know most people living at home with care needs have a spouse, a child or a good friend who is there, day in and day out. They’re the ones who cook the meals, make the doctor’s appointments, and are trusted to help with personal care. They’re unsung and unsupported heroes who selflessly pour their time and their hearts into caring for another person.

“It’s time for Ontario to care for the caregivers.”

Horwath was in the Bay of Quinte Wednesday to announce the Caregiver Benefit Program, which will provide direct support to caregivers who do not qualify for federal tax credit programs or respite care. The means-tested program would provide $400 a month to informal caregivers. Informal caregivers almost always take on additional expenses, like transportation costs.

In 2019, the Ontario Community Support Association said 18,000 people living in long-term care could have been at home with better home care, and the Ontario Hospital Association reported 750,000 patient days where someone was stuck in a hospital bed while waiting for home or long-term care. Family caregivers are a critical part of helping people live at home, instead of a nursing home or hospital bed.

“Doug Ford was making big cuts to long-term care before the pandemic, and he’s taking another swipe at privatizing more of the home care now. He just doesn’t believe in investing in our aging parents and grandparents,” said Horwath. “And Steven Del Duca and the Liberals aren’t the answer. They had 15 years to introduce programs to help people live safely at home for longer. They chose not to when they had the chance.

“I fundamentally disagree. Our aging parents and grandparents deserve the best, and we all deserve the peace of mind of knowing that they’re cared for.”

Nova Scotia is the only province with a similar Caregiver Benefit program. Horwath’s program is included in the NDP’s long-term care and home care platform, Aging Ontarians Deserve the Best. That comprehensive plan includes establishing provincial standards for home care, and making all home care public and not-for-profit.

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Jennifer Warr, Picton resident who was a caregiver for her mother:

"This system needs a massive overhaul. The Caregiver Benefit Program would provide some financial support, but more than that, some acknowledgment of the work family caregivers have taken on. The wonderful PSWs, nurses, and RPNs we met need full-time work, decent wages and paid sick days. And seniors deserve so much more."

Background

Horwath and the NDP have released a comprehensive home care and long-term care platform, which lays out a detailed plan to make the entire system public and not-for-profit, create 50,000 new spaces, and end the wait for home care and long-term care. Horwath and the NDP’s home care and long-term care platform, Aging Ontarians Deserve the Best, includes concrete plans to:

Overhaul home care to help people live at home longer
The NDP will end the for-profit, understaffed patchwork of home care companies that make seniors wait and fail to address inequities

Make all long-term care public and not-for-profit
The NDP will stop greedy profit-making at the expense of quality of care

Build small, modern, family-like homes
The gloom of being warehoused in institution-like facilities is over

Staff up with full-time, well-paid, well-trained caregivers
Instead of the revolving door of staff run off their feet

Make family caregivers partners
The NDP will guarantee that loved ones are treated like more than just visitors

Create culturally responsive, inclusive and affirming care
The NDP will make sure seniors feel at home, surrounded by their language and culture, and make sure 2SLGBTQIA+ seniors can always live with Pride

Clear the wait list
Instead of 38,000 people waiting years for a bed, and even longer for a culturally appropriate home, Horwath and the NDP will end the waits completely

Guarantee new and stronger protections
The NDP is committed to comprehensive inspections, a Seniors’ Advocate, and more