Ontario’s $89 Million Investment Secures Future of Community Paramedicine for Long-Term Care in Lanark County

Lanark County Paramedic Service celebrates permanent funding for a program making a difference in the lives of local seniors

Press Release – Mississippi River Health Alliance

The Ontario government’s recent announcement of $89 million in ongoing, permanent annual funding province-wide for the Community Paramedicine for Long-Term Care (CPLTC) program is being welcomed by Lanark County Paramedic Service (LCPS) as a milestone moment for seniors’ care in the region.

Launched in Lanark County in March 2021 as part of a provincial pilot, the CPLTC program provides seniors on, or at risk of being placed on, the long-term care waitlist with proactive, in-home healthcare. Community paramedics, working under medical direction and as an extension of primary care, offer assessments, diagnostics, treatments, and follow-up visits, all without patients needing to travel or leave the comfort of their homes.

“We’re grateful that permanent funding for the CPLTC program will allow us to keep providing compassionate, proactive care that helps seniors in Lanark County remain safe, supported, and independent at home,” said Travis Mellema, Chief, Lanark County Paramedic Service. “This program is a true example of healthcare innovation, offering personalized, preventative care that benefits both our clients and the entire health system. With stable funding support, we can continue growing this vital program to better serve our seniors and strengthen our community.”

Since launching in Lanark County, the CPLTC program has:

• Helped local seniors remain at home longer while waiting for long-term care placement.
• Reduced avoidable emergency department visits and hospital admissions.
• Provided timely care for chronic and complex health conditions without the need for travel.
• Improved quality of life by offering care that is personalized, proactive and patient-centred.

One local resident, a retired pilot, described the program as nothing short of life-changing:

“I was a pilot for many years. When a plane is going down, there is a choice to let it drop out of the sky or try for a soft fall through maneuvering. CPLTC helped my wife, and I have a soft fall. I say that because our decrease in independence was happening no matter what, but the community paramedic visits let us stay in the sky, live independently, as long as we possibly could.”

With permanent funding now secured, LCPS will be able to continue and grow the CPLTC program, expanding services, increasing visit frequency, and strengthening connections with primary care, Ontario Health at Home, and other community supports.

“Community Paramedicine for Long-Term Care program is about meeting people where they are, in their homes, in their communities, and making sure they have the care and support they need before a crisis occurs,” added Mellema. “This investment ensures we can keep doing that for years to come.”