Help LTC providers meet requirements in proposed legislation - Sullivan
Wednesday, December 13, 2006 -- Craig Anderson
Proposed long term care legislation could cast uncertainty over the future of older B and C class homes and will only increase the need for government to better fund long term care and work in greater partnership with providers, says Karen Sullivan, Executive Director of the Ontario Long Term Care Association.

“[W]e are asking government to commit $9.5 million in this budget to begin renewing the first 2,500 B and C beds, and to continue this process in a planned and rational manner annually until the job is done. Our members are willing and eager to work with government as both a planning and financial partner,” said Sullivan, in a pre-budget presentation to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs.

Sullivan also argued for increased care time for Ontario’s residents, expressing hope that the province would provide funds to match care times closer to that of Saskatchewan or Manitoba, where long term care residents receive more than 3 hours per person per day. In Ontario, care times are closer to 2.5 hours.

With many homes currently stretched thin for staff, increased funds will allow providers to offer more care time as well as address other budgeting issues such as daily food allowances and environmental services.

Yet, with the proposed Long Term Care Homes Act (Bill 140) – which if passed will introduce stricter licensing laws for older homes while increasing documentation requirements and thus workload – the need for government collaboration for improved outcomes is “heightened,” says Sullivan.

While acknowledging that the Bill is not the committee’s “direct concern,” Sullivan says that its potential for further burdening providers is too great to ignore.

“There are some 35,000 residents currently living in B and C homes throughout Ontario, homes that were built to the 1972 design standards. Structurally renewing these homes to eliminate three- and four-bed ward accommodation is critical to eliminating the double standard of resident physical comfort, privacy and dignity that exists in Ontario today. In addition, research shows that modern physical design standards impact a home’s ability to meet resident care needs, particularly those residents with dementia who make up over 60 per cent of Ontario’s current long term care population.”

Providers are incensed with proposed licensing changes in the new act, which would put a 10-year deadline on licenses for older homes, providers having no recourse after that time. After seven years the government is free to do as it wishes with the older homes, including closing them and moving the beds to another community.

“We recognize that it would be fiscally and practically impossible to accomplish this overnight. We also believe it would be irresponsible to wait another seven to 10 years to begin the structural renewal process and make the program available to some homes and not others,” said Sullivan, in her presentation.

The OLTCA was buoyed by a recent motion at Queen’s Park by Elizabeth Witmer, MPP for Kitchener-Waterloo. Witmer requested that the government commit to a capital renewal program.

The motion received unanimous support. Although the government is not required to act upon the motion, Sullivan is hopeful as Bill 140 gets set to go to public hearings.

“We are encouraged by the current level of political consensus on this program priority. Along with 35,000 residents, families, staff, and others in communities all across Ontario we are now hopeful that political unanimity is the precursor to government action,” said Sullivan.