TORONTO — More sick and dying Ontario patients will be treated at home this year as the province tries to unburden cash-strapped hospitals by releasing another $73 million for home care.

"Now people who are able to receive the care they need at home can stay out of hospitals, reducing the stress on these institutions," Health Minister George Smitherman said Monday.

"This will allow hospitals to better provide the acute-care services they are so good at providing."

As part of a four-year expansion of home care, another $73.2 million will be spent annually to treat people at home. That brings total funding for home care to $1.3 billion this year.

The increase will help treat 21,000 patients in their homes this year. Over four years, 95,700 more Ontario residents will be treated at home; 6,000 more dying patients will receive "compassionate, end-of-life care" without going to hospital, the government said.

"Home care offers greater dignity and quality of life for people of all ages including seniors and vulnerable people,'' Smitherman said. "But too often this is not an option. We're strengthening these services so that people will receive the dedicated, compassionate care they deserve, in the familiarity of their own homes."

As part of the funding announced in the Liberal government's spring budget, $10 million will be put toward a non-profit agency to help patients and their families acquire medical equipment for use at home.

The money for home care will come from the controversial new health-care premium imposed on Ontario residents.

Groups representing providers of home and community care said the new funding will provide essential services for the aging population.

"The government has listened to Ontarians who want the right level of ongoing care at home, keeping them from being admitted to hospitals and emergency rooms and also helping them when they leave hospital after an operation," said Valerie Bishop de Young, president of the Ontario Community Support Association.

Stuart Cottrelle, president of the Ontario Home Health Care Providers Association, said the funding will "provide desperately needed services for people to remain living in their homes and community."

"The importance of these services continues to grow as our seniors' population increases. There is greater participation of persons with disabilities in community life, and there are mounting pressures on hospitals and emergency rooms," added Cottrelle.