Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in September 2022, the Department of Health and Social Services released a supported living review report which highlighted the range of supported living needs of persons with disabilities and the gaps and challenges with how our system is meeting those needs. The report found that the system is complex to access, under-resourced to meet the full range of needs inside the territory, necessitating some residents to be moved south to receive care. The report detailed 33 recommendations, only 12 of which the department fully committed to responding to, citing a lack of resources as the reasons for not committing to the other 21 recommendations.
An area I'd like to focus on today in particular is the need for improved respite services for the residents who are providing in-home support for persons with disabilities who are able to live at home.
In the report, residents providing home support described stress and burnout and emphasized the need for supportive services that would allow them to keep family members at home but be able to lean on extra support when needed. The importance of respite care is it keeps people at home. Over time, it's a much more cost effective and preferred solution to having people end up in full-time care or even be sent south. The report found that respite services in Yellowknife and the communities is currently limited and recommended increasing overnight options and expanding something respite services in the communities as well. I would like to see a stronger emphasis towards respite services in the territory, Mr. Speaker, and changes to supported living generally which will help us strengthen our supported living services. This is one of the many things we can do to help incentivize people to stay here in the territory, to invest in this place, and make it their home. I'll have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Frame Lake. Members' statements. Member from Yellowknife North.
