Page 8 - Huronia Community Foundation - 2023 Vital Signs Report

10. Monitoring, Severn Sound Environmental CommunityConnection.ca older adults can get
Association 2022
11. Environment Survey Analysis, HCF 2022
12. Environment Focus Group, HCF 2022
13. Ontario Land Cover Compilation version 2,
Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry 2014
14. Ontario Wetlands Layer, Ministry of Natural
Resources and Forestry 2015
15. Species At Risk, Ministry of Environment,
Conservation and Parks 2022
16. Invasive Species, Severn Sound Environmental
Association 2022
17. Environment Survey Analysis, HCF 2022
18. Environment Focus Group, HCF 2022
19. Climate Change Solutions Park, York University 2022
HEALTH CARE &
WELLBEING:
A FOCUS ON
ACCESS TO
CARE, MENTAL
HEALTH AND THE
OPIOID CRISIS
Many factors affect the health of individuals
and communities. In addition to genetics and
lifestyle, the environment, the economy and
social factors all influence how healthy we are.
This means that to achieve Good Health and
Wellbeing for All, communities need to have
both health care services AND access to the
social determinants of health like housing,
employment, income, and healthy physical
environments (1). In this section we highlight
indicators of population health and health
services.
ACCESS TO SERVICES
FOR OLDER ADULTS
The percentage of older adults (aged 65+) in
North Simcoe is higher (25.5%) than Ontario
(17.6%). Around 3.1% of North Simcoe area
residents meet criteria for frailty which is higher
than for Ontario (2.2%) (2). These individuals
have multiple physical and social concerns that
put them at risk for poorer health outcomes.
By dialing 211 or going online to
8 | North Simcoe and Area’s Vital Signs Report 2023
information on services from all agencies in the
region, including support with transportation
to appointments. Many agencies are registered
charities that rely on donations to maintain
services.
Wait time and wait list data are not publicly
available for most services, with the exception
of long term care (LTC). There were 463 LTC
beds in North Simcoe and a total of 1,251 names
on the wait lists as of April 2022 (3). While 70%
of people seeking long term care are able to
access a facility close to home, the wait can
be lengthy. The available data shows that 9
out of 10 individuals waited up to 2.5 years
for a long term care bed (4). To support them
while they are waiting, the County of Simcoe
Paramedic Service has launched a new (5)
program that helps people to manage their
chronic conditions at home. 684 home visits
were made to 117 patients in the North Simcoe
region (22). The County of Simcoe is also
launching the Behaviour Support Transition
Unit at Georgian Village (6), which will provide
support to people who need extra care to
return home or to long term care.
PRIMARY CARE
90% of residents of North Simcoe have a
primary care provider, either a physician or
nurse practitioner (7). Despite this, 40% have
challenges with timely access to medical
services (8). This is consistent with data
COMMUNITY REACH PROVIDED 7,214
ACCESSIBLE RIDES IN MIDLAND FROM JAN
TO SEPT 2022. MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS
ACCOUNTED FOR ALMOST 50% OF THESE.
Photo courtesy of Community Reach.