Province re-introducing legislation to improve quality of life and protect seniors across the province
On Thursday, May 8, 2025, the Ontario government re-introduced legislation to protect and support seniors and the people who care for them. The Support for Seniors and Caregivers Act, 2025, if passed, would better connect seniors and their caregivers to complex care, and is backed by $114 million in investments to increase access to community and social programs that help seniors stay fit, active and healthy in their communities.
“As Ontario’s population continues to grow, it is critical to build for the future so we can support some of the most vulnerable members of our community,” said Paul Calandra, acting Minister of Long-Term Care. “That’s why our government is investing in new programs to improve quality and access to care while strengthening protections for seniors and their families.”
The proposed legislation would amend the Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021 and the Retirement Homes Act, 2010 and make a suite of changes to:
- Protect residents with dementia by requiring all long-term care homes in Ontario to have an organized program for dementia care and services.
- Support seniors and their families by strengthening residents’ rights to ongoing support from family or friends who provide care.
- Broaden requirements for long-term care homes to recognize and respect the cultural, linguistic, religious and spiritual needs of residents. This includes new regulations that require long-term care homes to increase information available in French.
- Introduce new offences related to the abuse or neglect of a long-term care home resident and enhance the ability to investigate and prosecute offences.
Other initiatives complementing the legislation include:
- Investing almost $80 million over three years to improve and expand dementia care and supports.
- Expanding community programming and resources for seniors living in their own homes.
- Developing a provincial approach for using artificial intelligence for the early detection of osteoporosis, responsible for 80% of all fractures in older adults.
These changes are one more way the province is taking action to protect Ontario and meet the needs of Ontario’s aging population and their caregivers by improving and expanding supports for seniors living in long-term care, congregate settings and in the community.
Quick Facts
- Seniors — people age 65 and older — make up the fastest growing age group in the province.
- Over 60% of LTC residents have a dementia diagnosis.
- As part of its plan to fix long-term care and address waitlists, the government is building 58,000 new and upgraded long-term care beds across the province.
- Ontario is offering incentives of up to $35,400 to PSW students and eligible PSWs to launch careers in long-term care homes and in the home and community care sector.
- The Ontario government invested up to $4.9 billion between 2021 and 2025 to create thousands of new positions for personal support workers and nurses in long-term care.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
