Ontario Invests Millions In Staff For Long-Term Care Homes
/The Ontario Government will provide up to $270 million this year to long-term care homes across the province to increase staffing levels, leading to more direct care for residents announced by MPP Dave Smith at Fairhaven Home on Wednesday.
(left to right) MPP Dave Smith; Mary Anne Greco, Riverview Manor Administrator; Carol Rodd, CEO St Joseph’s at Fleming; Dawn Baldwin, Extendicare administrator and Lionel Towns, Fairhaven Executive Director. Each member made speeches regarding the government funding for more healthcare staff. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
This includes $3,120,446 for long-term care homes in Peterborough-Kawartha this year. By 2024, the total average increase of permanent annualized funding for long-term care homes in Peterborough-Kawartha will be $18,043,200 more than what they would receive.
This is part of the province’s commitment to ensure long-term care residents receive — on average — four hours of direct care per day by 2024-25.
It was also announced that as part of the government’s plan to fix long-term care, it will bring forward legislation that will enshrine its commitment to four hours of care into law.
“For too long, governments of all stripes have neglected and underfunded our long-term care system. We have now seen all too painfully the results of that inaction,” said Smith. “Today, that changes. $18,043,200 more in annual funding will hire thousands of new nurses, personal support workers, attendants and physiotherapists for homes across our community. Our seniors will see four hours of direct care every day by our hardworking health care professionals.”
These funds will increase care for residents at:
Extendicare Inc., in Lakefield, will receive up to $356,212 for additional staffing this year to increase the hours of direct care for residents. By the year 2024-2025, the home will receive $2,181,756 annually more than their current funding. Extendicare Inc., in Peterborough, will receive up to $619,816 for additional staffing this year to increase the hours of direct care for residents. By the year 2024-2025, the home will receive $3,796,272 annually more than their current funding.
Fairhaven, in Peterborough, will receive up to $911,908 for additional staffing this year to increase the hours of direct care for residents. By the year 2024-2025, the home will receive $5,585,316 annually more than their current funding.
Riverview Manor Nursing Home, in Peterborough, will receive up to $345,530 for additional staffing this year to increase the hours of direct care for residents. By the year 2024-2025, the home will receive $2,116,320 annually more than their current funding.
St. Joseph’s at Fleming, in Peterborough, will receive up to $712,434 for additional staffing this year to increase the hours of direct care for residents. By the year 2024-2025, the home will receive $4,363,536 annually more than their current funding.
“We know that more qualified staff means more daily care for residents,” said Rod Phillips, Minister of Long-Term Care. “Hiring more staff is part of our government’s plan to fix long-term care and to improve the quality of care residents receive and the quality of life they experience.”
“This historic commitment of funding will have transformative effects on the care provided in Homes, and on the working conditions of our direct care staff,” said Lionel Towns, Executive Director of Fairhaven Long-Term Care Home.
“Our residents, their families, and our entire care team are pleased with the Ontario Government’s commitment to increase funding for Long Term Care. This funding will support a staffing model that will allow an increase in direct care time for each of our residents,” said Carol Rodd, CEO of St. Joseph’s at Fleming.
“Extendicare applauds the Ontario government for taking action on the long-standing staffing challenges that the long-term care sector has been confronting for many years,” said Dawn Baldwin, Administrator at Extendicare Lakefield. “Residents’ care needs have become increasingly complex, and this path to continued funding increases will make a real difference in delivery of safe, quality care for those we serve.”
“OMNI Health Care-Riverview Manor is thankful for the Government’s significant announcement of a $345,530 enhancement to our nursing & personal care funding for the remainder of 2021, and additional funding of $2,116,320 annually by 2024-2025. All of the funding is to be spent directly on nursing, personal care and programs, with any surplus returned to government,” said Mary Anne Greco, Administrator of Riverview Manor Nursing Home.
Residents receive an average of two hours and 45 minutes of direct care from nurses and personal support workers. This funding will increase the daily average to three hours, per resident per day by the end of this fiscal year. This funding also includes $42.8M to homes to increase care by allied health care professionals (such as physiotherapists and social workers) by 10 per cent this year.
The government is investing $4.9 billion over four years to boost direct resident care to an average of four hours daily by increasing care staff by more than 27,000 people. Hiring thousands of new staff at long-term homes and increasing the amount of care they deliver each year will be made possible by annual funding increases to homes:
$270 million in 2021-22
$673 million in 2022-23
$1.25 billion in 2023-24
$1.82 billion in 2024-25
Ontario Premier Doug Ford and his government introduced and had Bill 124 passed in 2019. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
