Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday in the Minister of Health and Social Services' statement, he spoke of a shortfall of 258 long-term beds. I would like to ask the Minister if this number takes into account all of the work that is happening in home care to keep people at home. Thank you.
Masi. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in this government's mandate, one of the priorities that we have is to support aging in place. As a result, we have moved forward with the Continuing Care Action Plan which has been shared with committee. The number 258 was identified in the long-term care review, and that actually contemplates doing more work with NWT residents to support them to stay in their homes for as long as possible.
We know that seniors benefit and want to live in their homes as long as possible. If they cannot live in their homes, they would like to stay in their regions; but, unfortunately, there will be those situations where individuals do need the additional support that is provided through long-term care. In short, Mr. Speaker, yes, the number 258 certainly takes into consideration this government meeting its mandate in doing more to support residents to age in place. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I would like to ask the Minister if there is some sort of a contingency plan in the event that there are construction delays in any of the new long-term care beds that are being contemplated. In this contingency plan, if there is one, is there a plan to have more money going into supporting aging in place?
As I have indicated, we have come forward with an aging in place or a continuing care action plan that talks about supporting and enhancing home care. We are talking about family or community caregivers who are providing supports to help people age in place. The Housing Corporation has moved forward with the construction of independent living units at a regional level, at a community level, to support people to stay in their communities if they are not able to stay in their homes. At the end of the day, we also know we need long-term care beds. The evidence is there. The numbers are there to support that. We need beds.
We do not have a contingency plan. We are moving full steam ahead to get those beds, but that does not in any way, shape, or form minimize or downplay the importance of aging in place and the important work we are doing to support people to stay in their homes, to stay in their communities, to stay in their regions for as long as possible. The evidence says that people who stay in their homes or in their regions have better health outcomes, are healthier, and have better connection to their family and friends. That is a priority for this government. We are going to continue to move forward with aging in place, but we will certainly not to take our eye off long-term care at the same time.
In between the time when the need for long-term care beds was identified, there was some discussion on family caregivers being paid to take care of their own elders as they age in place in their own homes. I was wondering if that specific initiative has been also factored into the 258 beds.
The concept of a family or a community caregiver was highlighted in the Continuing Care Action Plan. It is certainly something that we are excited about and certainly something we are pursuing. We believe all the actions we are taking, whether it is enhancing home care, working with community and/or family caregivers, working with the Housing Corp to put independent living units in throughout the Northwest Territories, or all the other actions that are clearly articulated in the continuing action plan, all build to supporting an environment where we can help individuals stay in their homes and their communities. It is all tied together, and the long-term care review and the long-term care beds are part of the continuum of care that is necessary to support our seniors as they age.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one of the things that often prevents seniors from aging in place in their own homes and their own communities has been cost. One of the big costs now is the lease cost of land, potentially because it is not covered 100 per cent like a tax relief. It is a 50 per cent thing. Some seniors could end up paying $2,000, $6,000 for land lease.
Will the Department of Health commit to, or this Minister commit to, working with other Ministers to look at those type of costs as those costs are being passed on to the homeowners? Will the Department of Health look at some further subsidies for those costs by working with other Ministers? Thank you.
That responsibility would fall under the Department of Lands, but I do hear the Member. I would like to sit down with the Member and have him explain to me in more detail the exact issue, and I am happy to engage with the Minister of Lands to see what, if anything, can be done. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.
