Both levels of government say they’re committed to increasing services to support seniors’ health care as the years start to creep up on the baby boomer generation.

MP Seamus O’Regan unveiled $78 million in federal funding for various initiatives yesterday at Bishops Gardens Seniors Living in St. John’s, including a new ten-bed hospice in central, and supporting adult-day programs which allow seniors to get out during the day while living at home.

In order to increase services, more staff will be needed—something Health Minister Tom Osborne admits will be a bit of a challenge.

He says having adequate staffing is a challenge in numerous industries right across the country and health care is no different. Finding workers to support an aging population has become a double-edged sword because a good chunk of the workforce is nearing retirement.

In hopes of boosting staffing levels, some home care workers in this province will be getting a boost in pay, but how much and when the wage increase comes into effect remains to be seen.

Osborne says more details on the pay raise and other new incentives for home support workers will be released once an agreement between the workers and NAPE has been ratified.