NEWS RELEASE
COUNTY OF SIMCOE
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The County of Simcoe has released its first report detailing the progress on the implementation of the recommendations outlined in 2018-2023 Simcoe County Positive Aging Strategy: Older Adults Strengthening our Communities.
“Our inaugural report card highlights our commitment to fostering and promoting age-friendly communities in Simcoe County,” said Warden George Cornell. “Together with our community partners, the County continues to implement large-scale change, provide targeted funding and develop creative solutions that help all our residents remain active, social and engaged in our local communities.”
The 2018 key achievements are outlined below. The full progress report is available online.
- In 2018, County Council approved $500,000 in annual funding towards the implementation of an annual Age-Friendly Seniors Housing Grant Program to support the development of age-friendly housing that allows older adults to continue to live independently in their own homes
- 30 applicants across 14 municipalities have already accessed accessibility funding
- The County was awarded funding for three additional long-term care beds at Georgian Manor by the Ministry of Long-Term Care, bringing the total number of beds operated by the County of Simcoe to 146
- The Community Paramedicine Referral Program made more than 4,100 referrals for patients requiring additional services at home. 60 per cent of those referred received enhanced support as a result
- The Community Paramedicine Home Visit Program, which deploys Rapid Response Paramedic Units to provide in-home visits when not responding to 911 calls, provided 651 home visits and 128 follow-ups in Orillia, Oro-Medonte and Ramara. This program is expanding to North Simcoe in 2019
As the proportion of senior residents in Simcoe County continues to increase, the County is committed to working with community partners and the Age-Friendly Advisory Committee to implement the recommendations identified in the 2018-2023 Positive Aging Strategy.
About the Age-Friendly Community Initiative
The County of Simcoe received funding from the Government of Ontario as part of its Age-Friendly Community Planning Grant Program. This funding served to establish a baseline assessment of Simcoe County’s age-friendliness and develop a comprehensive strategy.
A variety of community engagement processes collected feedback from residents 60 years of age and older, caregivers, and service providers for older adults to produce the Building an Age-Friendly Simcoe County - 2016 Community Needs Assessment and the County’s 2018-2023 Positive Aging Strategy. Both documents are available at this website.
County of Simcoe is composed of sixteen member municipalities and provides crucial public services to County residents in addition to providing paramedic and social services to the separated cities of Barrie and Orillia. Visit our website.
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