Statement from CEO Donna Duncan:
“We support the government’s continued efforts to bring the health system together to support better care and better quality of life. Our health system is under significant pressure with an unprecedented workforce crisis. We must work together across the health system’s full continuum of care to address these challenges and bring forward urgent solutions.
Long-term care homes play a critical role in our health system, facilitating over 37,000 transitions from hospitals to long-term care a year which ensures appropriate flow through 2,200 acute care beds. They have always been steadfast in serving Ontarians who need long-term care and in ensuring our seniors receive quality care in a comfortable and safe home.
Homes have worked tirelessly to enhance infection prevention and control measures, and vaccinations have strengthened our homes’ ability to prevent and contain the spread of COVID-19. Unfortunately, like other parts of the health system,Ontario’s long-term care homes are now dealing with a serious challenge – a severe health human resources shortage.
Long-term care homes are experiencing staffing challenges with registered nurses, registered practical nurses, personal support workers, and other important supportive roles such as dietary staff. In many communities, this has reached a crisis point. Homes in rural and remote communities are particularly affected.
We need to urgently work together to stabilize all parts of the health system. To support safe admissions from hospital, we need to ensure that our homes have the health human and other workforce resources, especially as we move into the anticipated fall flu/COVID season.
Addressing the crisis facing Ontario’s health care system requires a coordinated, system-wide response and creative community solutions. All health sectors are facing severe workforce shortages and we are all looking to hire from the same pool of available health professionals. It is critical that all health care providers work together – hospitals, long-term care homes, home care, community care, and primary care – to collectively implement solutions to support communities in crisis.
Today’s investments provide important resources and funding, but unfortunately will not be sufficient to address the day-to-day staffing challenges facing our homes. Long-term care homes urgently need staff. Plus, communities need expanded long-term care options because we face a long-term care wait list of nearly 40,000 people with our seniors needing quality care close to loved ones and their communities. We look forward to continuing to work with all levels of government and our health care partners to build long-term care capacity to meet current and future demands – so we can provide the best quality of life and care to our residents. Bold steps are needed toward transforming seniors’ care in Ontario that fosters prolonged local solutions and addresses the complex needs of our older adults. Long-term care homes are committed to being part of the collective solution.”