P.E.I. government rolls out At Home Caregiver Benefit promised in 2023 platform

The P.E.I. government provided details Monday on a new program announced last winter, designed to provide financial assistance to people caring for someone in their own home who would otherwise need to be admitted to a long-term care facility.

The At Home Caregiver Benefit will pay $250 to $1,500 a month depending on the care recipient's household income. It is paid to people receiving care, who will then use it to pay their primary caregivers.

Beginning immediately, people can call 1-800-371-8245 to require an assessment to determine if they are eligible.

The caregiver grant program was first promised in the Progressive Conservatives' 2023 election platform.

Last March, the province announced $5.2 million to fund the program in this fiscal year, but Health Minister Mark McLane said developing the new program had beenharder than anticipated.

At a news briefing Monday, he said the goal of the program is to let people who are aging stay in their own homes as long as possible, as well as take pressure off the Island'slong-term care facilities and their lengthy wait-lists.

"It's a great way for people to age at home comfortably and safely and to support the caregivers because they're doing fantastic work for us," McLane said.

The primary caregiver can be a family member, friend or neighbour helping with chores such as housework, finances, shopping, transportation, personal care and meals. They may live in the same household as the care recipient, or in their own homes.

The recipient must be 65 years of age or older and must be aresident of P.E.I. holding a valid health card. People under 65who meet clinical eligibility may also be eligible and will be discussed on a case-by-case basis. Care recipients must have significant needs and will be at high likelihood of requiring long-term care admission, but it is not necessary for them to be on the long-term care waitlist to receive this benefit.

As of 2022, there were 36,664 Island residents who were 65 years of age or older, comprising 20.3 per cent of the P.E.I. population. Across Canada,18.8 per cent of the population is aged 65 and up.