Statement from CEO Donna Duncan
“In recent years, the Ontario government has made historic commitments to increase hours of direct care for residents, rebuild outdated homes, and to create new spaces to meet the growing population of seniors.
In Ontario, the population over 80 is projected to more than double by 2040. As mentioned in today’s financial update, Ontario has committed to build more than 31,000 new and over 28,000 upgraded long-term care beds by 2028.
Aging in place is the preference for most seniors, and will be possible for the majority of people. However, 1 in 5 Ontarians over the age of 80 have complex care needs that cannot be safely addressed at home. As the seniors’ population grows, so too will the number of people who need long-term care.
The OLTCA and our members are committed to working with the Ontario government on strategies to ensure long-term care spaces and staff are available to provide the care and support that seniors need.”