Make Long Term Care a Priority in Next Budget, OANHSS Urges

OANHSS Remarks to the Minister of Finance - January 22, 2008  (pdf format - 5 pages)

OANHSS 2008 Funding Submission - November 2007 (pdf format - 15 pages)

TORONTO (January 22, 2008) – Today the association representing not-for-profit long term care homes urged the government to make resident care a priority in the upcoming provincial budget.

“Over the past year, many advocacy groups have been calling for the reinstatement of a care standard of at least three hours per resident per day and many called for 3.5 hours,” said Donna Rubin, CEO of the Ontario Association of Non-Profit Homes and Services for Seniors (OANHSS) in a pre-budget presentation to the Finance Minister.

“What we have done is calculated what government funding currently provides and what it would take financially to move to an average of three hours of care per resident per day,” added Rubin.

OANHSS has determined that current funding supports 2.48 hours of care per resident per day. The Association is calling for an investment of $586 million in fiscal year 2008-2009 to bring this to an average of three hours per resident per day and to address other critical shortfalls in the sector.

“The simple fact is that we need more hands on deck to dress, feed, toilet and care for our residents. The government would see immediate and positive results from this much needed investment in direct care,” stated Rubin.

This issue has been a top priority for OANHSS and its members over the last decade. The Association has continually advocated for stable and adequate resourcing to meet the increasingly complex care needs of residents.

“Minister Smitherman has often stated that he has injected over $700 million into long term care over the past four years. We do not dispute this figure – our issue is that for the most part, these funds have not gone to the area of greatest need,” Rubin added.

OANHSS’ analysis shows that the majority of new long term care funding has gone to maintaining previous policy commitments, system improvements and new projects.

“All worthy initiatives, but they do not enhance direct care,” said Rubin.

One area where government investment has made a real difference in the lives of residents was the 26 per cent increase in the daily food allowance this past fall. OANHSS whole-heartedly applauded this move.

“The jump in the food allowance from $5.57 to $7.00 a day for each resident had significant impact. That’s the type of investment we need in frontline staff to really improve care levels for our residents,” said Rubin.

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 further information, 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.