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Long-Term Care Homes

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Major Staff Shortages At Long Term Care Homes

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The Ontario Health Coalition is sounding alarms over the state of our long term care homes.

A Coalition survey shows 95% of staff report that their long-term care facility is short staffed.

It also shows 63% of staff report staffing levels are worse than before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

Executive Director Natalie Mehra says they’ve heard horror stories from employees.

“Most of the homes. More than 100 of the staff reported that baths can’t be done. Residents regularly are going without bathing and proper washing.”

Mehra adds “Staff haven’t had time to explain COVID-19 to residents who are confused. They don’t have time to visit with them. This really struck an emotional cord with staff who report that residents are lonely and yet staff have not had time to provide emotional care.”

Mehra stresses the Ford government must immediately increase staffing levels at the homes.

“We are expecting a second wave. The long term care homes in Ontario are not ready. They’ve already lost lots of staff because of illness, because they are afraid, and they do not have enough staff to get through a second wave.”

(With files from Sheri Leviski-Kotyk: Thunder Bay)

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Ford Introducing New Funding Model For Long-Term Care Homes

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Ontario is accelerating the development of long-term care homes.
The provincial government has introduced a redesigned funding model that will help speed up construction.
Premier Doug Ford says it’s part of a historic $1.75 billion plan to improve the long-term care sector.
“To kick-start the development of long-term care beds in Ontario. Today’s announcement will result in an estimated nearly 8,000 new long-term care beds and 12,000 redeveloped long-term care beds.”
Ford says the government has pledged 30,000 new beds for the next ten years.
The premier says revamped approach will encourage new beds to be built faster as well as upgrade existing older homes to meet high quality design standards, with features like air conditioning and private or semi-private rooms.
Ford says the new new funding model will help speed up construction by:
-Creating four new regional categories based on geographic location, each with a targeted home size: large urban, urban, mid-size, and rural. An increase to the province’s construction funding subsidy (CFS) will be tailored to each of these four categories, enabling the government to address the barriers and needs of different communities;
-Providing development grants, between 10% and 17% depending on regional category, to cover upfront costs like development charges, land and other construction expenses;
-Helping small operators in rural communities navigate the high cost of development, while ensuring larger urban centres can secure the loans and real estate they need; and
-Increasing funding to incentivize the construction of basic accommodation and continuing top-ups for small and medium sized homes.

Ford stresses ‘We inherited a broken system. A system where tens of thousands of seniors were left on wait lists for beds. A system where seniors are waiting in emergency rooms and hospital hallways.”

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Premier Shocked With Prime Minister’s Comments

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Premier Doug Ford says he was “shocked” by Justin Trudeau’s “off kilter” comments on the long-term care system

The Prime Minister answered a reporter question Thursday on the problems plaguing long-term care during COVID-19 saying “it’s a provincial jurisdiction and it’s them that have failed our seniors.”

Ford quickly fired back.

“Put your money where your mouth is. Help us out. We can’t do it alone. Support us. He’s been very supportive by the way but I’m a little shocked with his comment to be very frank with you. We’re supposed to be all in this together? Let’s all be in this together!”

Ford says the provinces need support and a partnership, noting they are working as hard as they can.

He adds “When we talk about the health transfer funds that we’re getting. It’s supposed to be a real partnership. Some provinces are getting as low as 18%. We’re getting about 20%-22%. That’s not a partnership. We’re putting the whole burden of the healthcare system, which is massive in Ontario, on our shoulders.”

The remarks come after a Canadian Institute of Health study found that Canada’s long-term care residents accounted for 81% of all reported coronavirus deaths country-wide, compared to an average of 42% in 16 other developed nations.

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Premier Stresses Federal Help Needed To Fix Long-Term Care Homes

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Although its a provincial responsibility, Premier Doug Ford is asking for outside help to fix the long-term care system.

Ford believes the federal government has a role to play in this crisis.

“We need a system standard operating procedure that applies right across the country. No matter if it’s in Quebec, or Ontario or B.C., we need a system that everyone goes by.”

Ford adds “We need the federal government at the table as a funding partner. Support us as we move forward. Help us fix this problem. We can’t fix it alone. No province can fix it alone. As Canadians we need to protect these residents.”

Five facilities in southern Ontario have been singled out for deplorable conditions but Ford doesn’t believe it’s limited to just those homes.

Ford is also refusing to pass the buck on this issue.

“We have to do a deep, deep dive. If it means people staying there around the clock, I don’t care what it takes, they can stay there around the clock and monitor these homes until we get it right.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has pledged his support and a willingness to work with provincial leaders but has been short on specific details.

 

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Province Taking Over LTC Homes

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The provincial government is taking over five private long term care homes in southern Ontario.

Premier Doug Ford says if he feels the need he will take action on other old age homes.

“We are fully prepared to take over more homes if necessary, we are prepared to pull licences, to shut down facilities if it is necessary. We will do whatever it takes, for as long as it takes,” Ford said.

Ford said he will do anything to ensure the safety of seniors during the pandemic but ruled out demanding his Minister of Long Term Care’s resignation.

Ontario has already taken over two long term care homes during the pandemic.

The Premier said he has heard the military will remain in our old age homes until at least June 12th.

He also committed to turning over a scathing report on the care being offered in long term care homes in our province to police.

Ford is also sending in more inspectors to check on homes across the province.

“We will find out very quickly who are good operators and who are bad actors,” Ford said.

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NDP Leader: “Buck Stops With Doug Ford”

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The leader of the NDP wants heads to roll as a result of a recent report from the Canadian Military about “horrific” conditions at five long term care homes in southern Ontario.

An angry Andrea Horwath says the government has to be held accountable.

“I think the conversation now has to be about the minister and the premier actually stepping up to the plate. Particularly the premier in terms of ensuring their is some kind of accountability, some kind of response to this month.”

Horwath says she wants the Minister for Long Term Care, Merrilee Fullerton to resign and for the government to call a public inquiry.

“Let’s not pretend. This is not news to Merrilee Fullerton. This is not news to Doug Ford. This is not news to Christine Elliott.”

The Canadian Armed Forces findings outline serious concerns around infection prevention, safety, staffing and level of care.

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Province To Probe “Troubling” Conditions At Care Homes

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Doug Ford says he’s heartbroken by a report on conditions in five long-term care homes dealing with COVID-19 outbreaks.

The Premier calls the documents “gut-wrenching” and says the Chief Coroner will be investigating the conditions in these facilities.

The report by the Canadian Armed Forces was made public this week. It details “serious concerns” around infection prevention, safety, staffing and level of care. The report also indicates the homes are beginning to stabilize since the military was called in on April 22nd.

The homes are Orchard Villa in Pickering, Altamount Care Community in Scarborough, Eatonville Care Centre in Etobicoke, Hawthorne Place in North York and Holland Christian Homes’ Grace Manor in Brampton.

The report says residents with COVID-19 at the Eatonville Care Centre were “allowed to wander” and possibly spread the disease to others. Military at the same home said staff are afraid to use supplies like gowns and gloves “because they cost money.”

Ford says he takes “full accountability” for the long-term care system, but maintains he has not failed seniors in the province in light of these conditions.

The Army has been asked to continue assisting in these five long-term care homes for another 30 days.

Merrilee Fullerton, Minister of Long-Term Care says one death in a long-term care home has been referred to Ontario’s Chief Coroner for investigation.

The government recently announced it will be launching an independent commission into Ontario’s long-term care system beginning in September.

Out of 626 long-term care homes in Ontario, there are currently 150 experiencing an outbreak, which is down from a high of 190.

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Government Strikes Down Public Inquiry

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The provincial government has voted down an NDP motion calling for a full, independent public inquiry into Ontario’s long-term care system.

Premier Doug Ford says they will leave it up to an independent non-partisan commission to determine what needs to be fixed in a broken system.

“Anything I see, the people are going to see. It’s going to be fully transparent, like we have been transparent right from day one of this crisis. We need to make changes and we’re making changes every day. We know a lot of the problems.”

Ford stresses “We aren’t going to be waiting two and a half, three years, for someone to tell us things that the commission can tell us. An independent commission that will be fully transparent to the public.”

Ford adds at the end of the day he’s the one responsible to ensure the government gets answers and that’s why he’s not going to sit and wait for an inquiry.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath says “It’s unconscionable for the Ford government to refuse to launch a full, independent public inquiry into how badly Ontario’s long-term care system has failed vulnerable seniors, and how to fix it. Voting no to a public inquiry is salt in the wound of families grieving the loss of loved ones to COVID-19 in long-term care, and for health care heroes who are run off their feet and still pleading for personal protective equipment. It is a cause for us all to worry that the painful, dangerous, decades-in-the-making problems in long-term care are not going to change.”

Horwath adds “To fix the system, we need to give a voice to seniors, workers, experts, and families who’ve lost loved ones. We need to closely examine the role of private, for-profit corporations in long-term care.”

She stresses “For the government to review the government with a behind-closed-doors government-controlled commission is not good enough. People deserve better.”

 

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Commission Set To Launch Long-Term Care Inquiry

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The provincial government is trying to get a better understanding of the impacts and responses COVID-19 has had on long-term care homes.

An independent non-partisan commission will conduct a thorough and expedited review of the system beginning in September.

Dr. Merrilee Fullerton, the minister in charge, says they need guidance on how to improve a broken long-term care system.

“We want to make sure that long-term care, the issues in long-term care, are addressed. This is something that we believe as a government is a priority. It has to be. We need to address the questions that Ontarians have.”

Dr. Fullerton stresses they must act quickly and decisively.

“The scope will be defined and the details will be defined leading up to September when it’s fully announced. I want to make sure that we are transparent. Ontarians deserve answers to their questions. This is a global pandemic that has inflicted tremendous tragedy on families and long-term care facilities.”

She adds “The public will be involved in hearings and deputations. They will have an opportunity to have input. We are taking action. We are not waiting. We are the first province that is coming forward and going to have a commission involving the public.”

COVID-19 has resulted in nearly 1,400 deaths in Ontario’s long-term care homes.

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PM Vows To Help Provinces With Long-Term Care Issues

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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says there are serious, underlying challenges facing long-term care homes across the country.

Trudeau says COVID-19 has exposed some uncomfortable truths about our society including how we care for seniors.

“We’ve seen heartbreaking tragedies in long-term care facilities and nursing homes right across the country. Over worked staff. Under staffed residences. Grieving families.”

He says over the coming months the federal government will be there to help the provinces find lasting solutions.

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