The Ontario government is investing close to 540 million dollars to protect residents, caregivers, and staff in long-term care homes from future surges and waves of COVID-19.
Premier Doug Ford says they have a responsibility to ensure the most vulnerable stay safe, while continuing to have access to the best medical staff and care.
Ford says the province is guaranteeing that every home will have a two month supply of Personal Protection Equipment.
405-million will help ease operation pressures including infection prevention, containment measures, staffing supports, and purchasing additional supplies.
Other highlights:
-$61.4 million for minor capital repairs and renovations in homes to improve infection prevention and control. These repairs and renovations may include minor upgrades to support physical distancing, plumbing or water supply cleaning, updating HVAC systems, or repairing or replacing furniture and equipment that cannot be fully cleaned;
-$40 million to support homes that have been impacted by the changes in occupancy numbers due to COVID-19. As the sector has been directed to stop admissions of third and fourth residents to larger rooms, a key source of income for each operator will be impacted. This funding will help stabilize the homes through the transition to lower occupancy rooms;
-$30 million to allow long-term care homes to hire more infection prevention and control staffing, including $20 million for additional personnel and $10 million to fund training for new and existing staff. This new funding will enable homes to hire over 150 new staff;
-$2.8 million to extend the High Wage Transition Fund to ensure that gaps in long-term care staffing can continue to be addressed during the pandemic;
Ford says the government continues to look at innovative solutions to provide more care where and when people need it and is making an investment to help people on the long-term care waitlist stay in their own homes longer.
