$500,000 Boost as Grey County’s Community Paramedicine Program Made Permanent
Ontario has made Grey County’s Community Paramedicine for Long-Term Care program permanent, with an additional $500,000 in funding to support seniors at home and ease hospital pressures.
Grey County’s Community Paramedicine for Long-Term Care (CPLTC) program has received permanent provincial funding, alongside an additional $500,000 in support for operations.
The announcement came August 5 as part of a broader $89 million provincial investment to strengthen community paramedicine programs across Ontario. These programs see specially trained paramedics provide in-home care for seniors, helping to manage chronic conditions, monitor health, and reduce avoidable hospital visits.
Ontario’s Minister of Long-Term Care, Natalia Kusendova-Bashta, said the investment ensures seniors receive care in the setting they prefer.
“By making this program permanent and delivering care to seniors in the comfort of their homes, CPLTC will continue to protect Ontario’s long-term care system, reducing avoidable hospital visits, supporting caregivers and improving seniors’ quality of life,” Kusendova-Bashta said.
Grey County was among the first municipalities to pilot the program in 2020. It initially received three years of funding, and was later extended to 2024. The shift to permanent funding is being welcomed by local officials, who say the program has proven essential for seniors and their families.
Grey County Warden Andrea Matrosovs said the program has been “a tremendous asset” since its launch.
“Not only does the program help keep more seniors in their homes for longer – which is where they want to be – it improves their overall quality of life and helps take some pressure off of our busy hospital emergency departments.”
The County confirmed that the program will now be fully funded by the province through the Ministry of Long-Term Care, with no impact on the County tax levy.
Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Paul Vickers said the program has become a core part of local healthcare.
“Helping patients where they are most comfortable has been a breakthrough in local healthcare,” Vickers said. “I am pleased to see that CPLTC programs like the one in County of Grey will get to build on their progress in this space and continue helping patients in our community in the years ahead.”
Grey County has been at the forefront of community paramedicine in Ontario since 2014, participating in early trials that shaped the role across the province.
Today, Grey paramedics provide services beyond CPLTC, including home visits, community clinics, and outreach programs focused on chronic health conditions such as COPD, heart failure, and diabetes. They also support palliative care, mental health, addictions, and the Supportive Outreach Program.
County officials said the additional $500,000 will allow the CPLTC program to expand its reach and further ease demand on local hospitals and long-term care facilities.
More information about Grey County Paramedic Services is available on the County’s website at grey.ca. The provincial announcement can be read in full at Ontario News.