Ontario Taking Action to Immediately Increase Staffing in Long-term Care

Pete Fisher
3 years ago
• Categories: Local

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. This
includes $2,735,745 for long-term care homes in Northumberland-Peterborough South.

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.

These funds will increase care for residents at:
· Golden Plough Lodge, in Cobourg, will receive up to $537,889 for additional staffing this year to increase the hours of direct care for residents. By the year 2024-2025, the home will receive
$3,294,468 annually more than their current funding.

· Burnbrae Gardens, in Campbellford, will receive up to $117,552 for additional staffing this year to increase the hours of direct care for residents. By the year 2024-2025, the home will receive
$719,576 annually more than their current funding.

· Regency Long Term Care Home, in Port Hope, will receive up to $213,731 for additional staffing this year to increase the hours of direct care for residents. By the year 2024-2025, the home will
receive $1,309,056 annually more than their current funding.

· Hope Street Terrace, in Port Hope, will receive up to $274,290 for additional staffing this year to increase the hours of direct care for residents. By the year 2024-2025, the home will receive
$1,679,952 annually more than their current funding.

· Fosterbrooke LTC Facility, in Newcastle, will receive up to $217,292 for additional staffing this year to increase the hours of direct care for residents. By the year 2024-2025, the home will
receive $1,330,884 annually more than their current funding.

· Streamway Villa, in Cobourg, will receive up to $167,419 for additional staffing this year to increase the hours of direct care for residents. By the year 2024-2025, the home will receive
$1,025,436 annually more than their current funding.

· Maplewood, in Brighton, will receive up to $131,799 for additional staffing this year to increase the hours of direct care for residents. By the year 2024-2025, the home will receive $807,252
annually more than their current funding.

· Pleasant Meadow Manor, in Norwood, will receive up to $160,298 for additional staffing this year to increase the hours of direct care for residents. By the year 2024-2025, the home will
receive $981,792 annually more than their current funding.

· Warkworth Place, in Warkworth, will receive up to $213,731 for additional staffing this year to increase the hours of direct care for residents. By the year 2024-2025, the home will receive
$1,309,056 annually more than their current funding.

· Extendicare Inc. – Cobourg, in Cobourg, will receive up to $245,786 for additional staffing this year to increase the hours of direct care for residents. By the year 2024-2025, the home will
receive $1,505,412 annually more than their current funding.

· Extendicare Inc. – Port Hope, in Port Hope, will receive up to $455,957 for additional staffing this year to increase the hours of direct care for residents. By the year 2024-2025, the home will
receive $2,792,664 annually more than their current funding.

“This funding will allow homes in our community to hire and retain more staff so they can provide more care to residents, every day,” said MPP David Piccini. “Hiring thousands of new staff over the next four years is a part of our government’s plan to ensure those living in long-term care get the high-quality care they need and deserve.”

“We cannot understate the significant impact of access to direct care on the well-being of our community,” states Northumberland County Warden Bob Crate. “Long-term care staff provide vital daily care, health and well-being services for residents. This important investment in additional staffing will help long-term care homes throughout Northumberland obtain the resources they need to ensure their residents receive the best possible care and quality of life.”

Currently, 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 3 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% 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

QUICK FACTS
· Through initiatives like the Supporting Professional Growth Fund, the government is working with partners to improve staff retention by highlighting long-term care as a career destination with
rewarding opportunities for continuous learning and development.

· The Ontario government has established the Staffing Supply Accelerator Group to support the objectives of the long-term care staffing plan. The group includes participation from major
stakeholders and champions the innovation, expansion and acceleration of education and training opportunities to help meet the demand for long-term care staff.