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Province Changing LTC Visit Rules

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Temporary measures are being enacted by the province in long-term care homes.

Starting at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, December 30th, access by general visitors will be paused with designated caregivers able to still visit and day absences for all residents for social purposes will be paused.

The province is also requiring all staff caring for a resident with a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 to wear a fit-tested, seal-checked N95 respirator.

“We know these measures are difficult for residents and families, but we must stand strong to protect our most vulnerable, which includes residents of long-term care homes,” said Dr. Kieran Moore, Chief Medical Officer of Health. “I encourage everyone to get their booster shot as soon as possible so we can keep everyone safe with the added layer of protection that the vaccine provides.”

On December 14th Ontario tightened COVID-19 restrictions in the long-term care sector which included all general visitors needing to be fully vaccinated to enter.

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Ontario Increasing LTC Home Staffing

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More funds over the next four years to hire more staff.

The province is committing up to $270-million this year, which will open up just over 4,000 new positions in the sector.

“In the 2020 budget, our government committed to ensuring residents receive on average four hours of direct care per day over four years from nurses and personal support workers,” says Minister of Long-Term Care Rod Phillips. “This will make Ontario the leader in quality long-term care in Canada.”

The province has committed to hiring more than 27,000 long-term care staff over the next four years.

Currently, residents receive an average of two hours and 45 minutes of care on a given day. It is expected that this funding will increase that time to three hours by the end of March.

“This year’s increase for a typical 160 bed home, means $1.2-million more over the next year in funding for new front-line staff,” explains Phillips. “By 2024, that same 160 bed home will receive an additional $3.2-million more than they received now for PSWs and nurses. That means that typical 160 bed home will have an additional six registered nurses, an additional 12 registered practical nurses, and an additional 25 personal support workers.”

The Minister also announced that as part of the government’s plan to fix long-term care, it intends to bring forward legislation that will confirm its commitment to four hours of care into law.

Funding Breakdown

  • $270 million in 2021-22
  • $673 million in 2022-23
  • $1.25 billion in 2023-24
  • $1.82 billion in 2024-25

You can find out more about Ontario’s Long-Term Care Staffing Plan here.