Minister Hehr announces new arrangement with long term care facility Carewest Colonel Belcher and Alberta Health Services
CALGARY, June 29, 2017 /CNW/ - Veterans Affairs Canada has been supporting aging Veterans for over 100 years and understands the importance of offering support in their home communities—where they feel comfortable and secure. Over the past year, Veterans Affairs Canada has been working with long term care facilities and health authorities across Canada to reach agreements that will further improve Veterans' access to long term care.
The Honourable Kent Hehr, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, fully supports the new partnership agreement with Carewest Colonel Belcher and Alberta Health Services. The new arrangement improves and expands Veteran access to long term care at Carewest Colonel Belcher. Veterans—who are eligible for departmental support in a community bed—now have access and preferred admission to 10 beds at the long term care facility. The 10 beds were, prior to the new agreement, only available to Second World War and Korean War Veterans.
The new partnership agreement supports the Government of Canada's commitment to improve service delivery to Veterans.
Quotes
"We value our strong and evolving partnership with Carewest Colonel Belcher and Alberta Health Services. These new agreements with long term care facilities and health authorities across Canada are an important part of improving access to care for Veterans."
The Honourable Kent Hehr, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence
"We are deeply honoured and proud to serve Canada's Veterans at Carewest Colonel Belcher. Working with Veterans Affairs Canada to improve Veteran access to long term care is one of many ways we are leading the way in innovative health care."
Dwight Nelson, Chief Operating Officer, Carewest Colonel Belcher
Quick Facts
- Carewest Colonel Belcher opened its doors to the Calgary community in 2003 and has since grown to offer programs and services for 175 long term care residents and 30 supportive living residents. Out of 175 long term care beds, 135 are reserved for the priority access of eligible war Veterans.
- With this new agreement, the following Veterans now have preferred admission to 10 beds at Carewest Colonel Belcher:
- Veterans who served in Canada during WWII for a minimum of 365 days and are low-income;
- Canadian Armed Forces Veterans; and
- Allied Veterans.
- No additional funding is required to improve Veterans' access to the 10 preferred admission beds at Carewest Colonel Belcher.
- In 2017-18, Veterans Affairs Canada provided annual funding of $495,379.00 to Carewest Colonel Belcher to enhance programming and supports for Veterans eligible for long term care in a contract bed. These programs and supports include social work, spiritual care, palliative care, art therapy, recreation therapy and support for occupational and physical therapy departments.
- Carewest Colonel Belcher is the seventh facility where VAC has established new agreements to improve Veterans' access to long term care beds. The other LTC facilities include Camp Hill Veterans Memorial Building, Ridgewood Veterans Wing, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Parkwood Institute, Perley and Rideau Veterans' Health Centre, and Veterans Lodge at Broadmead.
Associated Links
Carewest Colonel Belcher
Alberta Health Services
SOURCE Veterans Affairs Canada
Sarah McMaster, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Veterans Affairs, 613-996-4649; Media Relations, Veterans Affairs Canada, 613-992-7468, [email protected]
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