Ontario Connecting More People to Community Stroke Rehabilitation Care in Eastern Ontario

Nearly $3.8 million will help more people connect to critical post-stroke therapy closer to home

DURHAM — The Ontario government is investing an additional $1.2 million in base funding this year, increasing to over $2.5 million in annualized base funding next year to expand Community Stroke Rehabilitation (CSR) services in Eastern Ontario to connect more people to the care and treatment they need.

The following organizations will receive funding in the Region of Durham:

Home and Community Care Support Services Central East – $220,800
Lakeridge Health – $130,200

“Our government is making record investments in our health care system to expand access to vital health services”, said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “This investment in the expansion of post-stroke rehabilitation is one more way we are connecting people to the care they need, to get more people back to doing what matters most to them.”

This funding is part of an additional $15 million the Ontario government is investing to help health service providers across the province expand their CSR services and connect an additional 1,400 people to the care they need.

“This investment will ensure we can effectively meet the needs of stroke patients by increasing access to appropriate and timely rehabilitation, increasing their level of independence, opportunity for community re-engagement, and overall quality of life.” said Lorne Coe, MPP for Whitby and Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier.

Community stroke rehabilitative care connects people who have experienced a stroke with occupational therapy, speech therapy, physiotherapy, and other professional services to aid in their recovery, all provided in a hospital outpatient clinic, community or home setting. Appropriate and timely rehabilitation can significantly improve outcomes for people who experience a stroke, increasing their level of independence and overall quality of life.

Through Your Health: A Plan For Connected and Convenient Care, the province is taking action to expand Ontario’s hospitals and access to services in home or community to ensure patients and their families receive the right care, in the right place, for years to come.

“Anyone whose loved one has experienced a stroke knows how critical timely and effective treatment is,” said Todd McCarthy, MPP for Durham. “Our government is committed to building a stronger healthcare system so Ontarians can receive the care they need to return to their full, active lives. This investment will ensure those who have experienced a stroke can recover faster and closer to home.”
“Investing in stroke rehabilitation is not just about healthcare; it’s about giving Ontarians a real chance at recovery, independence, and a better quality of life,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, MPP for Pickering-Uxbridge. “By expanding rehabilitation services, we reduce long-term healthcare costs, foster a healthier workforce, and, most importantly, help families rebuild their lives after stroke.”

“With this investment, we are working towards supporting stoke recovery in Ajax and across the Durham Region. We know early supports offer the best chance for survivors to return to their lives and have the greatest chance of a full recovery,” said Patrice Barnes, MPP for Ajax. “This holistic approach not only reduces the burden on caregivers, but also on our front-line workers and our healthcare system, supporting families where they need it the most.”

QUICK FACTS
 A stroke is a medical emergency that occurs when blood stops flowing to any part of a person’s brain and damages brain cells. Common signs of a stroke include sudden drooping in a person’s face, an inability to raise both arms and slurred speech.
 CSR services include a combination of occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech therapy, and social work in a hospital outpatient clinic, community or home setting. Last year over 6,000 people received CSR services in Ontario.
 These services follow the Community Stroke Rehabilitation Model of Care, developed in close partnership with clinical experts across the province to outline best practices for how health care services are delivered to stroke patients.
 As part of Ontario’s 2024 Budget, the province is investing a record more than $85 billion into the health care system. This includes a record four per cent increase in investments to the hospital sector and investing in the home and community care sector.