Sask. Party leader Scott Moe has announced three measures for seniors, if re-elected.
Moe promises to eliminate charges for inter-hospital ambulance calls for seniors, and reduce the maximum cost of other senior’s ambulance calls by over 50 per cent – from a maximum of $275 per call to $135 per call. There are approximately 50,000 senior’s ambulance calls in Saskatchewan each year.
The Seniors Income Plan provides a monthly benefit of up to $270 to low income seniors. Over the next four years, the Saskatchewan Party promises to increase the maximum amount to $360 per month. About 14,000 Saskatchewan seniors receive the Seniors Income Plan benefit each month together with the federal Guaranteed Income Supplement benefit.
The Saskatchewan Party is also promising to improve care for seniors living in long-term care facilities as well as those living in their own homes by hiring 300 more continuing care aides.
180 new continuing care aides will be hired to work in long-term care facilities, which is equivalent to one additional aide for every 50 residents. 120 new continuing aides will be added to provide home care services throughout the province.
The reduction in senior’s ambulance costs will come into effect in December of this year and will cost $8.4 million per year. The Seniors Income Plan increase will be phased in over three years beginning in 2021 and will cost $9 million per year when fully implemented. The new continuing care positions will be added following the 2021-22 budget and will cost $18.4 million per year.
Continuing Care Aides Backgrounder
