Budget Report Card:  Ontario Budget Graded 'D' in Addressing Needs of Seniors

Ontario Government Release and Backgrounder

TORONTO (May 11, 2005) –  The Ontario budget has been given a ‘D’ for its response to the pressing needs of long term care residents and seniors in the community.

“While we understand there is some increase in the budget, we’re very disappointed,” said Donna Rubin, CEO of the Ontario Association of Non-Profit Homes and Services for Seniors (OANHSS). “The McGuinty government promised a revolution in long term care. But today’s provincial budget has missed the mark by a wide margin, and the lack of significant new funding means little will change for Ontario’s frail elderly.”

In the last provincial election, the Liberals pledged to boost long term care funding by $6,000 per resident, which is equivalent to an increase of $450 million a year. But since then, the government has increased annual operating funding by only a nominal amount.

“This phased approach – a little bit this year, a little bit next year – barely keeps up with inflation and will not significantly enhance the quality of life of residents,” Rubin explained. “Seniors can’t wait over the mandate of a government for the services they need today.”

Given the ongoing pressures on the long term care sector, OANHSS was looking for investments that would address such deficiencies as:

• Mental health services: Less than 6 per cent of residents currently receive professional mental health services, even though 65 per cent have Alzheimer disease or some other form of dementia. As well, there is growing concern over having residents with serious mental health problems living in homes that are not equipped to meet their needs. The government needs to act immediately on these issues.
   
• Meal allowance: Currently, homes are expected to feed residents on a budget of only $5.24 per day per person.

• Nursing and personal care: Long term care residents receive just over 2 hours of nursing and personal care a day. OANHSS believes that this level is unacceptable, and has been urging the government to fund at least 3 hours a day.

• Personal support workers. Currently, these frontline staff each care for about 10 residents on average, and they are stretched to the limit trying to meet residents’ basic needs.

• Rehabilitation and restorative care: Homes are not able to provide anywhere near the level of rehabilitation and restorative care that residents need. For example, many residents, especially those living in rural and northern areas, are not receiving adequate levels of physiotherapy. The government has announced that it intends to address these gaps and we await details of how this is to be achieved.

“We could be doing so much more for these individuals, but it’s not going to happen with the kind of budget we see today,” Rubin stated.

OANHSS is also disappointed by the lack of significant investment in supportive housing and community-based services for seniors (e.g. homemaking, respite care, adult day programs, meal programs, and visiting health services). The association was calling for a funding increase of $225 million. Again, the budget identifies some money for this area, but it clearly falls short of the need.

“We should be expanding the range of services in the community so that seniors receive the right service, in the right place, at the right time. But again, without the resources, that’s not going to happen,” Rubin said.

OANHSS is the provincial association representing not-for-profit providers of long term care, services and housing for seniors. Members include municipal and charitable homes for the aged, 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 further information, please contact:

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

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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.