{"id":11409,"date":"2020-05-06T14:45:37","date_gmt":"2020-05-06T18:45:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/?p=11409"},"modified":"2020-06-01T12:51:51","modified_gmt":"2020-06-01T16:51:51","slug":"ontario-needs-a-new-normal-in-post-pandemic-long-term-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/index.php\/ontario-needs-a-new-normal-in-post-pandemic-long-term-care\/","title":{"rendered":"Ontario needs a \u2018new normal\u2019 in post-pandemic long-term care"},"content":{"rendered":"

(May 5, 2020)<\/p>\n

By: Malcolm Buchanan, The Hamilton Spectator<\/p>\n

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There have been numerous documented cases in Ontario of seniors and people with disabilities dying and mistreated as a result of dehydration, ulcerated and infected bed sores, choking and urinary tract infections in long-term care homes. There are also reports of resident-on-resident homicides in long-term homes.<\/p>\n

These horror stories have focused attention on the vulnerability of the residents that rely on these institutions. The incidents mentioned came from media reports that predate the COVID-19 pandemic<\/a><\/span>. They reflect Ontario\u2019s system of care for seniors and people with disabilities in \u201cnormal\u201d times, not times of the virus crisis.<\/p>\n

Politicians claim they are saddened over the tragedy now unfolding in Ontario\u2019s long-term homes. They have long known about the chronic underfunding of long-term care facilities that has led to inequality and instability in providing quality care for the elderly. Unions and organizations that advocate for people who depend on long-term care have for years complained about the worsening conditions of these private facilities. The private for-profit long-term care \u201cmarket\u201d which are self regulated, charge exorbitant fees, including fees for service that a person would be entitled to receive through a publicly funded long-term care system.<\/p>\n

The connection between private long-term homes and diminished standards of care has been documented in numerous studies and reports. The Ontario Health Coalition has found that for-profit facilities not only provided \u201cinferior\u201d care, but also were more likely to have been cited for serious deficiencies than nonprofit and public long-term care homes.<\/p>\n

The solution being proposed by the Ontario government\u2019s Action Plan to address COVID-19 outbreaks in long-term homes is less than what is needed to stop the spread of the virus and stabilize the workforce \u2014 the so called \u201ciron ring.\u201d<\/p>\n

This is a naive solution that presumes that regulations can cause private corporations, whose CEO\u2019s are hired and rewarded to deliver profits to shareholders, to magically begin acting in the interest of ordinary people. This is not going to happen.<\/p>\n

The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly shown that Ontario\u2019s long-term care system, especially the for-profit system, is not equipped to cope with health epidemics and pandemics.<\/p>\n

As of April 29, across Ontario, 154 long-term care homes are reporting outbreaks. Of the provinces 951 COVID-19 related deaths, 705 were long-term care home residents. This is alarming given that a CBC investigative report revealed that since the Ford government was elected, annual announced inspections of long-term homes have ceased.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

We need a new \u201cnormal.\u201d Long-term care, nursing home care, community care facilities and home care should become an integral part of the Ontario health-care system. We need to rethink the long-term care structure and regime from top to bottom that must include:<\/p>\n

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