Expect More Short Stay Programs for Long Term Care
Toronto, ON (February 28, 2012) – Shifting to accommodate
transitional care in long term care homes is a direction the sector is
willing to embrace but the needs of long stay residents must remain a
priority.
This was the message delivered today at the Economic Club of Canada
by Donna Rubin, CEO of the Ontario Association of Non-Profit Homes and
Services for Seniors (OANHSS), as part of a panel speaking on the roles
that prevention and rehabilitation play in a sustainable health care
system.
“Prevention and rehabilitation are not commonly associated with
long term care,” said Rubin. “Changing consumer expectations
about where and when they receive care and what is most efficient from a
health care system perspective is driving this shift to short term
rehabilitation in long term care homes so people can return home and
stay there for as long as possible.”
Rubin cautioned however that long term care homes in Ontario are
already full with over 20,000 people on the waiting list.
“We must give careful and considered thought to how we build
this capacity into our sector. Repurposing much-needed beds for
transitional care at a time when a growing number of people need access
to long term care services will result in competing priorities,”
added Rubin.
OANHSS has been calling on the government to undertake a
comprehensive capacity planning exercise to inform decision-making about
the number of beds and types of community services that will be required
to meet the current and future needs of Ontario’s seniors.
“We need a long term plan,” said Rubin. “Without
one, we won't be able to handle the number of seniors coming down the
pike, let alone provide them with the care they need.”
OANHSS is the provincial association representing not-for-profit
providers of long term care, services and housing for seniors. Members
include municipal and charitable long term care homes, non-profit
nursing homes, seniors’ housing projects and community service
agencies. Member organizations operate over 27,000 long term care beds
and over 5,000 seniors’ housing units across the province.
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For more information, contact
Chris Noone
Manager, Communications and Member Services
Tel: 905-851-8821 ext. 253
