Budget Bulletin: Seniors

What It Means for Seniors

• $1.5 million to improve access for seniors to continuing care province-wide.
• Long-term care funding increased $19 million to $175 million.
• Home care funding increased to $110 million.
• $50 per day fee for long-term care patients in hospital.
• No change in Pharmacare premiums or co-payments.

As Nova Scotians grow older, government is making strategic investments to ensure the programs seniors need can be sustained, now and into the future. This is being accomplished by making decisions based on evidence and identifying ways to manage growth in costs.

Government will invest $1.5 million to begin expanding a new, streamlined system for seniors accessing continuing care. All seniors will have their needs assessed, ensuring they receive the right level of care. Those with greatest needs for nursing home care will be placed first. Early results show that the system -— being tested in eastern Nova Scotia -— has reduced wait lists for nursing homes, while freeing up expensive acute care beds in hospitals. As the system expands province-wide, seniors will receive more appropriate care, delivered more cost-effectively.

As seniors move out of expensive hospital beds, investments are being made in alternative levels of care. Long-term care funding will be increased by $19 million to an estimated $175 million in 2001–02. This funding includes wage and benefit increases for staff in long-term care facilities to help retain competent and caring individuals to work with Nova Scotian seniors.

As well, demand is expected to increase for home care or other community supports, so seniors can remain at home longer —- closer to family and friends. To respond, investment in home care will increase $10.5 million to an estimated $110 million in 2001–02.

The combined, long-term effect of these investments will see seniors getting more appropriate care, delivered more cost- effectively. As an interim measure, government will expand province-wide a policy -— tested in Cape Breton last year -— that recognizes what a hospital bed is being used for. Once a senior has been medically discharged, they will be charged $50 a day while they remain in hospital as a long-term care patient. This fee is lower than what they will pay once they enter a nursing home, but brings some consistency in how all long-term care patients are treated. While expected to generate $1 million in 2001–02, this revenue is expected to decline, as nursing home wait lists drop, and seniors are placed more quickly.

In 2001–02, Pharmacare premiums or co-payments will not increase. However, drug costs continue to grow faster than any other component of the health care system, and, as our population ages, more seniors will need to rely on the program. Over the next year, government will work with physicians, pharmacists, and seniors’ groups on ways to ensure the program remains accessible and affordable. Along with continuing efforts to manage growth in costs, this work will also consider how future increases can be implemented as fairly as possible.

NOTE: For other 2001–02 budget information, visit the
Department of Finance Web site at www.gov.ns.ca/finance .