Funds for chronic-care facility

BY MARC LALONDE

marc.lalonde@transcontinental.ca

Local Liberal MNAs continued dishing out the pre-election goodies with a $6 million funding announcement at the Denis-Benjamin Viger long-term care facility in Ile Bizard Monday afternoon.

Nelligan MNA Yolande James made the announcement on behalf of Health Minister Phillippe Couillard at a news conference; the cash will be used to expand and renovate the existing facility, which currently houses 125 residents.

“It’s all part of the Plan d’Action 2005-2010 for senior citizens with limited autonomy,” said Health Ministry spokesman Geneviève Dupuis. “Some of these projects are already underway and some of these projects are just being announced now.”

Couillard announced the action plan for seniors in 2005 and set aside $725 million across the province to take care of those seniors experiencing a lack of autonomy. Of that cash, $136 million was set aside for facilities on the island of Montreal.

The cash is aimed at humanizing some of the facilities currently housing the low-autonomy patients, Dupuis said.

“We’re trying to reduce rooms with multiple residents to single or double rooms. The population is aging very quickly and we’re taking into account the needs of this population.”

James emphatically reiterated the government’s commitment to its constituents.

“(These are) members of the community towards whom we have an obligation to ensure the highest quality of life possible. These renovations will allow, among many things, an improvement of the layout of the units as well as provide the institution with more adequate common space,” she said.

Speculation is rampant that the Liberal government will soon announce a spring provincial election.