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Lastâ€"minute provincial funding prevents $1.3 million shortfall for Community Care Access Centre l astâ€"minute funding by the Ministry of Health as helped wipe out a $1.3â€"million funding shortâ€" fall at the Waterloo Region Community Care Access Centre that could have lead to a rationalization of serâ€" vices and longer waiting lists for home care. The board of directors of the Community Care Access Centre (CCAC) _ received assurance from the Ministry of Health last week that the province â€" would â€" provide increased funding needed to cover the cost of a significant growth in the demand for community nursing, therapy and homemaking services in Waterloo Region. The board met last Wednesday to consider how to deal with a projected shortfall in funding brought on by a unexpected 10â€"perâ€" cent rise in the number of individuals receiving care through programs adminisâ€" tered and funded by the CCAC. That 10â€"perâ€"cent increase in demand meant the agency was helping 700 more people than the CCAC had projected at the start of its funding year. The board had no manâ€" date to run a deficit in the agency‘s fiscal year which ends in March. It was conâ€" sidering rationalizing some of its services and extending waiting lists for other serâ€" vices such as people receivâ€" ing intensive services in their homes while they wait for an opening in a local longâ€"term care facility. "We were pleased the ministry recognizes the unique circumstance involved in our growth," said Norma Marossi, chair of CCAC‘s board of directors. "It is impossible to accurateâ€" ly predict how many people in â€"the community will require these services over a single year, and community health budgets need an added measure of flegbility to be able to meet changing community needs." Some of that doubleâ€"digit increase was brought on by ; SPORT COATS SUITS S Bos VrBanac Chronicle Staff 250 125 o 197" hospital restructuring and the push to get more people out of out of muchâ€"needed hospital beds and back into their homes as soon as posâ€" sible The region‘s aging popuâ€" lation and its need for home services â€" which promises to continue to grow over the next _ decade â€" as . baby boomers continue to grey â€" was also a factor. Kevin Mercer, chief execâ€" utive officer of the CCAC, said the agency was foreâ€" casting a $1.7â€"million deficit based on its November numbers, but a decline in December meant that $1.3 million would be enough to allow it to carry on all its serâ€" vices at currerft levels until the end of the fiscal year. The next step will be to enhance the base budget for the next fiscal year, with Mercer predicting an eightâ€" to 12â€"perâ€"cent increase in demand for 2001â€"2002. Reg. 595 to 6 RVR y tman"~ R\')L 10" to 65" SALE SILK ‘sarr 50 w 347" a g TIES 9" Reg. 295" to 460 Reg. 65 to 110 RT SHIRTS SALE aaucare fappamner _ SPONUSHRTS: SALE Elizabeth Witmer, MP.P. Kitchenerâ€"Waterloo cordially invites you and your family to join her for a New Vear‘s Open, House Sunday, January 28, 2001 1:00 p.m. â€" 3:00 p.m. Club Willowells 40 ‘Blue Springs Drive, Waterloo RS.V.P. (519) 725â€"3477 "We‘re going to be budâ€" geting for sustained growth because there‘s really nothâ€" ing to indicate to us that‘s it‘s not going to continue to grow," said Mercer. "Indications â€" are . that there is going to be an ongoâ€" ing growth for some time as we manage and aging popuâ€" lation and changes in hospiâ€" tal practices." There will be some relief for the agency when new longâ€"term care beds come on line locally. But until that time, the CCAC will have to administer to people‘s needs in their homes. "In the interim, until those facilities are built, these people are still in their homes and require additionâ€" al support at home," said Mercer. That will require a signifiâ€" cant increase of the CCAC‘s $40.4â€"million budget for this year. "We will be defining a o SPORTSHRTS SALE MEN‘S flPPAREL & DRESS SHIRT 29" io 55 Watefloo TOWfl Squal'e Alterations extra on 1/2 price merchandise budget that will be based on a case load growth of someâ€" where between eight and 12 per cent," said Mercer. And those involved with the CCAC think the latest funding commitment from the Ministry of Health sigâ€" nals that the province is ready to fund the growth of the homeâ€"care sector. "The ministry was very clear that they want to mainâ€" tain strong services in the community and they don‘t want us to alter services in the community in the way of waiting lists or reduced serâ€" vices,‘ said Mercer. "They have been very supportive of the community sector in the way of funding." 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