Seniors needing physiotherapy to benefit from $800K cash infusion from Queen's Park

YorkRegion.com
April 17, 2014
By Tim Kelly

Vaughan seniors in need of physiotheraphy got a boost from the province this week as four new publicly funded clinics in the city will be given more than $800,000 in funding.

Vaughan Liberal MPP Steven Del Duca announced the cash injection Wednesday morning at a news conference at Villa Leonardo Gambin on Friuli Court. He said the money will help more than 2,000 people locally. It’s part of clinic-based physiotherapy that assists 90,000 people across Ontario, including some 60,000 in-home.

The province also said it will increase access to exercise and falls prevention classes in Vaughan at Maple Community Centre, Villa Del Sole, Chartwell Valley Vista and Richview Manor. It’s expected to help up to 10,000 seniors in the general vicinity and 130,000 seniors across Ontario.

“These wonderful initiatives will help seniors in our community lead healthier and more independent lives and they will ensure that we are better able to protect and care for those who have contributed so much to our community,” Mr. Del Duca said.

Seniors who want to access physiotherapy services at any of the above-mentioned clinics need a referral from a doctor or nurse practitioner. There are no hard caps on the number of treatments, Mr. Del Duca added, seniors will get the recommended treatment they need.

One of the new treatment centres is SPINEgroup, at Hwy. 7 and Pine Valley Drive. Its clinical director, Dr. Connie D’Astolfo, was on hand for the announcement and said she has 586 patient files that have been awarded to that location already through the physio-funding program.

“Currently there is no waiting list. I am excited about this,” she said.

The other new clinics in Vaughan are In-Form Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Centre at 8348 Islington Ave., Woodbridge; Mary Luccisano Physiotherapy and Associates, 4600 Hwy. 7, Woodbridge and LifeMark Yorkwoods Rehab, 9200 Dufferin St., Vaughan.