Province Rolls Out LTC Funding: OANHSS Applauds New Dollars to Enhance Resident Care

Province Rolls Out Long Term Care Funding: OANHSS Applauds New Dollars to Enhance Resident Care

Toronto, Ontario (October 7, 2004) – The roll out of new long term care funding, announced today by the Premier and the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, will improve the quality of care for residents in Ontario’s long term care homes.

“We are thrilled,” said Donna Rubin, CEO of the Ontario Association of Non-Profit Homes and Services for Seniors. “In their spring Budget, the government confirmed its commitment to long term care. The roll out of this funding represents a sizable investment that will make a real and meaningful difference in the lives of the seniors we care for in our member homes. With these new dollars our members will be able to improve staffing, increase care levels and enhance programs and living environments for residents.”

“Our sector has been reeling from the challenges posed by our aging demographic,” Rubin added. “Residents are older, their care requirements are far more complex than ever before and we have been signaling for years that funding has not kept pace. This government has recognized the shortfall and these new dollars are a big step towards closing the gap.”

“In addition to allocating new funding for care and programs, the government must also be commended for freezing co-payment increases for residents, increasing resident comfort allowances, supporting greater resident and family involvement in long term care, as well as their recent investments in home and community care to support aging in place,” noted Rubin.

With today’s announcement, the government has also taken concrete steps to equalize the historic differences in funding between for-profit and not-for-profit homes.

“This is a long-standing and extremely complex issue,” said Rubin. “After years of raising the need to deal with the inequities in funding between homes, OANHSS is very pleased the government has made significant efforts to restore funding fairness to the sector.”

OANHSS has actively supported the government’s initiatives to reform long term care, welcoming new measures to increase accountability and transparency. Monique Smith’s report on her review of Ontario’s long term care facilities has provided a solid blueprint for resident-focused reforms.

“Public confidence in our long term care system is critical,” said Rubin. “We commend Minister Smitherman for his leadership and we support any efforts to strengthen the system and assist seniors and their families in making informed decisions about care.”

OANHSS is the provincial association representing not-for-profit providers of long term care, services and housing for seniors. Its member facilities operate over 26,000 long term care beds and more than 5,000 seniors' housing units in Ontario.

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For further information, contact:
Debbie Humphreys
OANHSS
905-851-8821 x 233

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Ontario Association of Non-Profit Homes & Services for Seniors
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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.