McGuinty Government Now in a Position to Keep its Promise to Long Term Care Residents

McGuinty Government Now in a Position
to Keep Its Promise to Long Term Care Residents

Toronto (March 9, 2006) – With higher-than-expected tax revenues pouring into provincial coffers, the McGuinty government is now in the position to keep its promise to residents of long term care homes.

During the last provincial election, the Liberals promised a $6,000 increase in government funding for each resident of Ontario’s long term care homes (equivalent to about $450 million).

In the past two budgets, the Liberal government has added only $144 million – about $2,000 per resident – in new funding to improve direct care and services in these homes.

“We were told last year that the province was strapped, and that’s why it was going to be difficult for the government to meet its commitment. But now that its tax revenues are at least $1 billion higher than expected, we know that there’s room in the budget for the government to deliver the remaining $4,000 increase in care,” said Donna Rubin, CEO of the Ontario Association of Non-Profit Homes and Services for Seniors (OANHSS).

Many municipal governments around the province, which operate not-for-profit long term care homes, have passed motions in support of OANHSS’ position including the regions of York, Peel, and Waterloo; the cities of North Bay and Windsor; and the counties of Brant, Dufferin, Essex, Frontenac, Grey, Lambton, Renfrew, and Simcoe. The governing bodies of many charitable long term care homes have passed similar motions.

A number of seniors groups are also urging the provincial government to keep its pledge. They include: Concerned Friends of Ontario Citizens in Care Facilities, Ontario Association of Residents’ Councils, Ontario Society (Coalition) of Senior Citizens’ Organizations, and The United Senior Citizens of Ontario Inc. (see below for supporting quotes).

If the province fails to deliver on its promise, OANHSS warns that many long term care residents will continue to go without the services they require. For example:

Residents now receive just over 2 hours of nursing and personal care over a 24-hour period. OANHSS believes that this level is unacceptable and should be closer to at least 3 hours.

More personal support workers are needed. Currently, these frontline staff each care for about 10 residents, and they are stretched to the limit trying to meet residents’ basic needs.

Homes are not able to provide anywhere near the level of rehabilitation and restorative care that residents need.

Only a small fraction of residents currently receive professional mental health services, even though 65 per cent have Alzheimer disease or some other form of dementia.

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 26,000 long term care beds and over 5,000 seniors’ housing units across the province.

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For more information:

Debbie Humphreys Steve Williams

OANHSS PR POST

905-851-8821 x 233 416-777-0368

QUOTES FROM SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS

Concerned Friends of Ontario Citizens in Care Facilities

“The government needs to re-think its priorities. If limited resources demand that choices be made, we'd rather see more of that money going to direct care for residents, and less to systems and processes.”

Lois Dent, President

Ontario Association of Residents’ Councils

“Residents across Ontario, through their Residents’ Councils, have expressed concern about the funding for the level of care they need for quality of life in their homes. The top priority for extra funding must be, in their view, direct care of residents.”

Pat Prentice, Executive Director (Interim)

Ontario Society (Coalition) of Senior Citizens’ Organizations

"We are dedicated to improving the quality of life for Ontario's seniors, and we feel that seniors in long term care homes are not being cared for as they need and deserve. With the expected surplus, surely additional funding for long-term care homes should be a priority."

Ethel Meade, Co-Chair

The United Senior Citizens of Ontario Inc.

“This issue involves all of us. All of us, someday, will be affected either directly or through a family member or friend. All of us better start caring about the care in these homes and demanding more of government.”

Judith Muzzi, President

C	ontact OANHSS

Ontario Association of Non-Profit Homes & Services for Seniors
7050 Weston Road, Suite 700, Woodbridge, Ontario L4L 8G7
(P) 905-851-8821
(F) 905-851-0744

OANHSS Privacy Policy

OANHSS members include not-for-profit providers of long term care, services and housing for seniors in Ontario.
Members include municipal and charitable long term care homes, non-profit nursing homes,
seniors' housing projects and community service agencies.