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NEWS RELEASE
North East LHIN Helping Seniors in North Bay and Mattawa Get Care in Community
February 13, 2015 -- Earlier today, the North
East LHIN announced investments in two new
programs that will help more seniors living in
North Bay and area to get the care they need
to live independently in community.
At an event held with members of a LHIN
supported Community Support Services group,
Danielle Bélanger-Corbin, North East LHIN
Board Chair, announced funding for:
 First Link Coordinator for Alzheimer
Society

Assisted Living for high risk seniors
“The North East LHIN will continue to make
targeted investments to strengthen home and
community-based care in Northeastern Ontario,”
said Louise Paquette, CEO of the NE LHIN. “In
North Bay today, more assisted living services will
be delivered so that people can have their health
care needs met in community.”
Care providers joined NE LHIN Board Chair, Danielle BélangerCorbin, and CEO, Louise Paquette, in North Bay to hear ways
that community and home care is being strengthened and
seniors better supported to live independently at home. Two
programs were announced that respond to the needs of area
seniors. Clockwise left to right – Louise Paquette , CEO of NE
LHIN; Danielle Bélanger-Corbin, Board Chair of the NE LHIN;
Jamie Lowery, ED of Cassellholme; Lorraine LeBlanc, ED of the
Alzheimer Society; and North Bay resident, Denise Parry.
The First Link North Bay Coordinator will improve
transitions of care for people living with dementia
by linking patient referrals from community care
providers to the Alzheimer Society. The Alzheimer
Society now provides programs and services for more than 1,500 people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or
a related dementia across the North Bay district. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia.
“The First Link program will allow us to enhance access to services, education and training for dementia care
programs that help people in the North Bay & Districts,” said Lorraine LeBlanc, Executive Director, Alzheimer
Society. “This position will triage and assist the individuals to navigate the system and work collaboratively
with primary care services and providers from other organizations to simplify access to dementia-appropriate
services. As the name states, it is that First Link where concerns, needs, gaps or other are identified and
solutions are developed to assist the person with dementia to gain a meaningful life and live independently for
as long as possible.”
New funding from the North East LHIN will go to Cassellholme to provide assisted living for seniors in their own
…/2
home or a seniors’ building. “The Assisted Living program provides around-the-clock scheduled and
-2unscheduled support for seniors,” explained Jamie Lowery, CEO, Cassellholme. “With the support of the North
East LHIN, we are able to continue extending this supportive service to more seniors in North Bay and
Mattawa.”
These investments, as well as ongoing North East LHIN funding for free exercise and falls prevention classes for
older adults, are helping to respond to people’s needs in community. Starting in September 2014, the NE LHIN
rolled out 55 falls-prevention exercise classes across Northeastern Ontario focused on building balance,
flexibility and strength in older adults.
North Bay senior, Denise Parry, who spoke at the event, noted: More community support for seniors in North
Bay is important for people like me who want to live in their own home and stay as healthy as possible – both
physically and mentally. I’m grateful that Northeastern seniors are able to benefit from free exercise classes
close to where they live.”
FACTS:
 Today’s funding announcement means close to an additional $300,000 will be invested in supporting
seniors in North Bay and area.
 More than 1,500 seniors in the North East, including more than 250 in the Nipissing area, are currently
receiving Assisted Living services – providing both scheduled and unscheduled around-the-clock help.
Assisting seniors to live independently at home responds to the care requests of seniors and helps
improve hospital patient flow while shortening wait times in emergency rooms.
 In addition to falls-prevention classes, the NE LHIN has funded 16 exercise classes in North Bay alone,
which are free for seniors, being attended by approximately 200 seniors.
 Over the next 20 years, the population of seniors aged 65 and over in the North East will increase from
today’s 19% to more than 30%.
 Health care’s Community and Home Support Sector (CSS) is made up of not-for-profit agencies
working to help their clients live at home and improve the quality of their live, as well as that of their
families. There are 12 of these providers funded by the NE LHIN in the Nipissing-Temiskaming hub
area. Their services range from homemaking, meal delivery, social and congregate dining, to assisted
living respite and home maintenance.
 The primary purpose of the Nipissing, East Parry Sound, Temiskaming (N.E.T.) Community Support
Service Network is to further the strategic objectives of the NE LHIN Integrated Health Service Plan by
improving access to coordinated community-based services. The N.E.T. Network is represented at the
Regional CSS Network, and aligns its work both locally and with regional initiatives.
 The North East LHIN is responsible for planning, integrating, coordinating and providing funding to 145
health service providers in Northeastern Ontario. It oversees $1.4-billion in local health care
investments on behalf of the 565,000 residents of Northeastern Ontario.
-30MORE INFORMATION:
Please contact Kathleen Bain, Communications Officer at the NE LHIN, at [email protected] or 705840-2340 (office) or 705-358-0477 (cell).