OTTAWA, March 27, 2023 – The Olde Forge Community Resource Centre will start cutting service to isolated seniors and persons with disabilities starting this April, as a result of provincial underfunding, said Colleen Taylor, Executive Director of the Olde Forge: “The recent provincial budget did not address our concerns over chronic underfunding by the Province in this sector, and we have no choice but now to start cutting programs.” Ninetyfive patients in dementia day programs as well as drives to medical appointments will be affected. Ottawa’s Olde Forge Community Resource Centre, a non-profit agency that has served the community in Ottawa’s west end for over 40 years, joined 30 other community support agencies in writing to the Ontario Government last fall about the impact of chronic underfunding. Save for a 3.5% increase this year, these agencies have been surviving on 2012 funding levels. Said Olde Forge CRC Executive Director Colleen Taylor: “Keeping our funding to 2012 levels doesn’t take into account not only inflation but also the growth in demand for our services by seniors in our community. Unfortunately, it means cutting back our programs when the need is growing.” The Provincial Government has limited funding for Ottawa’s community care sector to 2012 levels, leading to cuts in services for all community support service agencies across Ottawa and the region, including the Olde Forge. The cuts will affect seniors and adults with disabilities living independently at home with community support assistance. The cuts are the result of years of chronic provincial underfunding despite increased demand and inflation, which were not addressed in the recent provincial budget. Community Support Services (also known as CSS services) are a critical part of Ontario’s healthcare system. They facilitate hospital discharges, ensure a meal will be delivered to the home, the patient will be transported to a follow-up appointment, or a palliative patient will have support to die at home. CSS programs give relief to caregivers of loved ones with dementia, assist working adults with mobility challenges get ready for work, prevent isolation, and promote wellness of seniors through social and fitness programs. Said Joel Vansnick, Chair of the Olde Forge CRC Board of Directors: “This action by the Ontario Government is short-sighted and damaging. It will slow down hospital discharges and increase Emergency Department visits to Ottawa’s hospitals when community providers start turning away referrals next month. Meanwhile, the Provincial Government is sitting on $1 Billion in funding that was announced last year and never made it to the pockets of struggling agencies trying to keep people out of their more expensive and overburdened hospital partners.”

Des milliers de personnes vulnérables {âgées et handicapées} risquent de perdre des services lorsque les fournisseurs de soutien communautaire commencent à réduire leurs programmes à partir d’avril en raison de sous-financement de la part du gouvernement provincial.

Le centre de ressources communautaires Olde Forge à Ottawa, un des agences de service de soutien communautaire,annoncera les coupes aux services de santé communautaires à partir du mois prochain comme le gouvernement a restreint le financement de 2023. A l’exception d’une augmentation de 3.5% cette année, les agences survivent aux niveaux de 2012. Colleen Taylor, la directrice exécutive de Olde Forge CRC maintient “ Garder le financement aux niveaux 2012 ne tient pas compte de la croissance de demande par les aînés de notre communauté pour nos services depuis ce temps . Malheureusement , le résultat est que l’on doit couper les programmes lorsqu’il y a un grand besoin.”

Le gouvernement provincial maintient le financement pour le centre communautaire de soin au niveau de 2012,ce qui amène des coupes de services pour les organismes de service de soutien communautaire à Ottawa et région y inclus Old Forge. Les coupes affectent les personnes âgées et les adultes handicapés vivant de manière autonome à la maison avec l’aide du soutien communautaire. Les coupes sont le résultat de plusieurs années de sous-financement provincial chronique malgré l’augmentation de la demande et de l’inflation.

<<Chandra Pasma, députée provinciale d'Ottawa-Ouest-Nepean, a dit : << le gouvernement Ford continue de sous-financer des soutiens et des services vitaux comme le CRC d'Olde Forge, qui permet les gens à éviter l'hôpital.

Il suffirait d'un investissement de 7 millions de dollars pour que ces organisations puissent maintenir ce niveau de service, mais en ne fournissant pas ce financement, ce gouvernement ajoute un fardeau inutile à notre système de soins de santé qui est déjà surchargé. >>

Les services de soutien communautaire sont un élément essentiel du système de soins de santé de l’Ontario. Ils facilitent les sorties de l'hôpital, assure qu’un repas sera délivré à la maison, le patient sera transporté à un rendez- vous de suivi ou un patient palliatif bénéficiera d’un soutien pour mourir à domicile. Les programmes CSS soulagent les soignants d'êtres cher atteint de démence,aident les adultes qui travaillent à mobilité réduite à se préparer au travail,préviennent l’isolation,promouvoient le bien être des aînés grâce à des programmes sociaux et de conditionnement physique.

Said Joel Vansnick,Président du conseil d'administration de Olde Forge, << Cet action du gouvernement provincial est myope et endommageant. Ceci va ralentir les sorties de l'hôpital et augmenter les visites aux urgences aux hôpitaux d’Ottawa lorsque les fournisseurs communautaires commencent à refuser les références le mois prochain. Pendant ce temps, le gouvernement est assis sur un financement de 1 milliard de dollars qui a été annoncé l'année dernière,ne s’est jamais rendu aux agences en difficulté qui essaient de garder les gens hors des partenaires hospitaliers plus chers et surchargés.>>
Olde Forge CRC offre des services de soutien communautaire aux aînés et aux adultes handicapés depuis plus de 40 ans dans les secteurs de l’ouest à Ottawa. Il fait partie d’un réseau de fournisseurs de services de soutien communautaire à Ottawa dont l’objectif est de permettre aux personnes de vivre en toute sécurité et de manière indépendante à la maison ou elles souhaitent rester.

Pour de plus ample information veuillez contacter :
Colleen Taylor
Directrice Exécutive
Centre de ressources communautaires Olde Forge
613-829-9777

Thousands of vulnerable individuals (seniors & disabled persons) will be at risk of losing services when community support providers start cutting back on programs beginning in April, as a result of Provincial Government underfunding.

Ottawa’s Olde Forge Community Resource Centre, one of 22 community support service agencies in Ottawa, will be announcing cuts to community healthcare services starting next month, as the Government of Ontario has restricted 2023 funding. Save for a 3.5% increase this year, these agencies are surviving on 2012 levels, says Olde Forge CRC Executive Director Colleen Taylor: “Keeping our funding to 2012 levels doesn’t take into account the growth in demand for our services since then by seniors in our community. Unfortunately, it means cutting back our programs when the need is growing.”

The Provincial Government has limited funding for Ottawa’s community care sector to 2012 levels, leading to cuts in services for all community support service agencies across Ottawa and the region, including the Olde Forge. The cuts will affect seniors and adults with disabilities living independently at home with community support assistance. The cuts are the result of years of chronic provincial underfunding despite increased demand and inflation.

Chandra Pasma, the MPP for Ottawa West—Nepean said: "The Ford government is continuing to underfund vital supports and services like the Olde Forge CRC that keep people out of our hospitals. An investment of $7 million is all it would take to ensure these organizations can maintain this level of service, but by failing to provide this funding this government is adding an unnecessary burden on our already overwhelmed health care system."

Community Support Services (also known as CSS services) are a critical part of Ontario’s healthcare system. They facilitate hospital discharges, ensure a meal will be delivered to the home, the patient will be transported to a follow-up appointment, or a palliative patient will have support to die at home. CSS programs give relief to caregivers of loved ones with dementia, assist working adults with mobility challenges get ready for work, prevent isolation, and promote wellness of seniors through social and fitness programs.

Said Joel Vansnick, Chair of the Olde Forge CRC Board of Directors: “This action by the Ontario Government is short-sighted and damaging. It will slow down hospital discharges and increase Emergency Department visits to Ottawa’s hospitals when community providers start turning away referrals next month. Meanwhile, the Provincial Government is sitting on $1 Billion in funding that was announced last year and never made it to the pockets of struggling agencies trying to keep people out of their more expensive and overburdened hospital partners.”

The Olde Forge CRC has been providing community support services to seniors and adults with disabilities for over 40 years in Ottawa’s west end. It is part of a network of Community Support Service providers in Ottawa whose goal is to keep people living safely and independently at home where they want to stay.

For more information contact:
Colleen Taylor
Executive Director, The Olde Forge Community Resource Centre
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
613-829-9777

Your Story. Our Care. Shares Raw Stories of Those Thriving at Home with the Support of Olde Forge Community Resource Centre and Rural Ottawa South Support Services

Today, the Olde Forge Community Resource Centre (Olde Forge) and Rural Ottawa South Support Services (ROSSS) launched Your Story. Our Care. which was supported by the $45,800 Resilient Communities Fund grant received from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). The awareness campaign will spotlight seniors and adults with disabilities within the community who are thriving at home with the help of these two local non-profit organizations.

"I am pleased to know that the Olde Forge will receive a $45,800 Resilient Communities Fund grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation” said Chandra Pasma, MPP for Ottawa West— Nepean. “The work that the Old Forge and Rural Ottawa South Support Services are doing together to empower seniors and adults with disabilities is crucial, especially during a period of increased social isolation. Even amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, these organizations continue to provide this vital support. I am happy to know that, with this grant, they will have even more resources to build on this important service."

Carleton MPP Goldie Ghamari added: “I congratulate the Olde Forge and Rural Ottawa South Support Services on launching their joint campaign. It’s always inspiring to hear stories of seniors and adults with disabilities living life to their full potential. We know how much COVID-19 was a barrier to accessing the important services these organizations offer, and that’s why our government under Premier Ford, through the Ontario Trillium Foundation, gave funding to the Olde Forge and ROSSS to make the necessary upgrade to ensure the safety and well-being for the seniors and adults with disabilities that use these amazing services.”

“During the pandemic, we saw first-hand how support services such as those provided by Olde Forge and ROSSS can ease the effects of isolation and caregiver burnout,” says Colleen Taylor, executive director, Olde Forge. “This funding will help offset the negative impacts COVID has had on our organizations by increasing awareness of our services and, in turn, assist our sustainability efforts so that we are here for our communities in years to come. We hope the stories of real people in our community will resonate with others and bring increased awareness and demand for the programs both local organizations offer.”

Groups like Olde Forge and ROSSS are critical in helping seniors and adults with disabilities live as independent and active members of society, particularly as Canada’s healthcare system continues to face immense pressures. Grocery support, phone wellness checks, virtual and phone-based fitness and social programs, in-home aide, transportation, and footcare clinics are just a few of the resources available to those in Ottawa and surrounding areas.

“Olde Forge and ROSSS believe in the value of independence at every stage of life and understand the importance of being an active member of society, no matter what challenges exist,” says Kelly Dumas, executive director, ROSSS.

To learn more about this campaign, visit YourStoryOurCare.com.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations celebrates 40 years of grant making in Ontario and making a lasting impact in communities. Last year, OTF invested nearly $209M into 2,042 community projects and partnerships, which included funding for the Government of Ontario’s Community Building Fund. Visit otf.ca to learn more.

About the Olde Forge Community Resource Centre: Olde Forge provides support programs to seniors and adults with physical disabilities in Ottawa’s West End. The organization offers fitness and social programs, technology support for seniors, caregiver resources and more.

Contact:
Colleen Taylor
Executive Director
Olde Forge Community Resource Centre This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
613-829-9777 Ext 224

About ROSSS: A non-profit charitable organization, Rural Ottawa South Support Services is a champion for seniors, people with disabilities, and caregivers in Rural Ottawa and area. The organization offers programs such as Meals on Wheels, affordable and accessible transportation services, social programs, caregiver services and more.

Contact:
Kelly Dumas
Executive Director
Rural Ottawa South Support Service This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 613-692-4697 Ext 225

Anne is a long time fitness enthusiast and instructor who is currently certified with the Canadian Centre for Active Aging. Her goal is to provide a safe and fun atmosphere for participants to work out while continually improving their level of fitness and enjoying life to the fullest. Her classes are inclusive of all levels of fitness.