5 ideas to improve Long Term Care

Eastern Ontario Wardens have made five recommendations to the provincial government to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of long term care service.

The five recommendations come from a two-part review of the facilities in 2020 and 2021.

The Wardens Caucus had a consultant develop an independent report as an analysis of the 15 municipalities operated in eastern Ontario.

The five recommendations are:

– Increase direct care funding to achieve the Provincial benchmark of the four hours of care model;

-Transition to a per bed funding model to increase clarity, efficiency, and transparency of the funding process;

-Increase Provincial capital funding predictability and provide ongoing support for capital maintenance;

-Promote and support resource sharing between long-term care homes;

-Improve long-term care processes to increase efficiency and effectiveness.

Hastings  County Warden Rick Phillips, a member of the Wardens’ Caucus, speaks to Quinte News on Tuesday

“We all 13 of us have Long Term Care Homes that we run ourselves but that doesn’t mean that we’re not concerned with all long term care homes in Ontario.”

In a statement, EOWC Chair Debbie Robinson says, “Long-term care is a key priority for the caucus and EOWC members are vital partners in the delivery of long-term care. When I think of long-term care and how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted our residents and families, we must ensure that systemic issues that have been identified across the sector are addressed. The EOWC has demonstrated that we are a willing partner and are able to provide on-the-ground leadership to implement changes.”

In total, EOWC members currently own and operate 15 long-term care facilities, representing 2,386 licensed beds.

The EOWC statement continues, “The COVID-19 pandemic placed a spotlight on a number of pre-existing challenges that have been pervasive in Ontario’s long-term care sector for many years. The EOWC is committed to working closely with the province and other key stakeholders in order to create a world-class long-term care system.

“The caucus had the opportunity to discuss the findings, impacts and recommendations of the comprehensive review with the Honourable Merrilee Fullerton, Minister of Long-Term Care, as part of the 2021 Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) Conference from January 25 to 26. The EOWC has also provided a formal submission to Ontario’s COVID-19 Long-Term Care Commission.”