Statement from CEO Donna Duncan
On the proposed new legislative changes to expand supports for seniors and caregivers:
“The proposed new legislation announced today will provide an important expansion of supports and services for seniors living with dementia and the people who care for them.
Caring for people living with dementia is a core purpose of long-term care homes. More than 60 percent of long-term care residents are living with advancing Alzheimer’s or another dementia. Each individual’s experience with the disease is different, and long-term care homes strive to provide sensitive and personalized care that helps residents to live a high quality of life.
We are grateful to Minister Kusendova-Bashta for her empathy, vision, and leadership to bring more focus and investments to support dementia care, including more resources to help enhance the rollout of emotion-focused care in long-term care homes across the province.
We also thank the Minister for the proposed pilot project to support seniors in the community by providing access to services in long-term care. People living with dementia typically move to long-term care when the symptoms caused by the disease can no longer be managed at home. The ability to access services in long-term care can help to manage symptoms, reduce distress for both the resident and caregivers, delay admission to long-term care and ultimately support a smoother transition for residents and families that are familiar with the long-term care home and staff.
The changes announced today will complement the government’s historic investments in the sector and support the transformation that is underway in long-term care homes across Ontario. Ontario’s long-term care homes continue to embrace innovation and strive to provide resident-centered care that meets the clinical, social, emotional and spiritual needs of our residents.”
December 2, 2024