Will Ontario be fully Accessible by 2025?

Feb. 15, 2010 - PRLog -- It is clear that the government is pushing the responsibility of public accessibility to private industry and indicated that minimal tax dollars will be spent on improving access for people living with disabilities.

The provincial social services budget directly funds residents of Ontario for age in place home improvements made to privately owned residential properties and the long term savings are huge!

Does the Ontario Government see value in sharing their return on our investment for supporting accessibility in private housing?

Putting a number on Aging in place:
The Ministry of Long Term Health estimates a total cost savings of $29,200.00 per individual each year (based on an average cost of $80/day in a long-term care home) See LHIN Aging at Home Strategy Detailed Service Plan 2008/09, page 17. The Ministry of Social Services budget funds the Home & Vehicle Modification program as well as the RRAP for disability programs, both offering forgivable grant incentives for people that agree to remain in their home instead of moving into long term care after 5 years.

Calculations based on facts:
$29,200.00 saved per year X 5 years of long term care savings = $146,000.00 for each individual that remain in their home for an additional 5 years of life. How many Ontarian's are making a deal with the province to remain in their home's?

The savings:
The Ontario March of Dimes, Home and Vehicle Modification 2008 budget is estimated to be approximately $10,000,000 excluding the cost of administration.

Assuming that half of this grant money is directed towards aging in place home accessibility modifications, the below demonstration of long term health care savings are accurate.

$5,000,000 divided by $15,000.00 (maximum grant) = approx. 333 Ontarians with a disability agreed to age in place in 2008

333 X $146,000.00 = $48,618,000 long term health care savings for one year based on conservative calculations. This does not include what our federal government budget funds towards the RRAP for disability program, charities that provide funding for accessibility or individual aging in place modifications paid for privately.

In closing:
This equation demonstrates the savings from age in place commitments made possible by government grant incentives given to home owners. This could redirect funding towards public accessibility, reduce our taxes and significantly reduce the need for long term care outside of the home for everyone.

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Reliable Independent Living Services® design and install barrier-free living spaces. They have the experience and resources needed in order to transform any work or living place into a comfortable, barrier-free environment.