August 19, 2008

Ontario is providing $23.3 million to support the creation of 873 personal support worker positions in long-term care homes. This will increase the average paid hours of direct daily care per resident to 3.26 hours this year of nursing, personal support and programming.

This is the first round of funding to add 2,500 new personal support worker positions and 2,000 more nurses in long-term care homes over the next four years, as announced in the 2008 Budget.

These additional frontline staff will increase the average paid hours of direct daily care per resident in long-term care homes to 3.5 hours by 2011. As a result, long-term care home residents will benefit from more hands-on care, such as personal hygiene care, help with transferring into chairs, vehicles or beds, as well as with dressing and undressing.

“Access to quality health care, when and where it is needed, continues to be a focus for this government, because it’s what matters most to the people of Ontario,” said David Caplan, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. “This latest investment will contribute to strengthening staff capacity in the long-term care sector, which ultimately means more bedside care for residents.”

“The addition of 873 personal support workers is a step in the right direction,” said Ontario Long-Term Care Association Executive Director, Janet Lambert. “The sector is pleased with these new positions. It will help homes across the province deliver the level of care that residents expect and deserve.”

"There are many initiatives underway to deliver better care for residents in long-term care homes", said Lorraine Purdon, Network Coordinator, Family Councils' Program. "Today's announcement, delivering funding for more frontline staff, is another positive step to improve resident care and the Family Councils' Program is pleased to be working with the government on further initiatives to improve the quality of life for residents in our long-term care homes."

• Since 2004, the government has funded at least 6,100 new front-line staff in long term care homes, including 2,300 nurses.
• Shirlee Sharkey, President and CEO of Saint Elizabeth Health Care, submitted a report this spring entitled “People Caring for People” following an independent review of staffing and care standards in long-term care homes. Sharkey is currently leading an Implementation Team including representatives of residents and families, providers and staff to develop local staffing plans that would increase accountability for how staffing dollars are spent.
• The government will publicly report for the first time on quality of care in long-term care homes, in the form of resident health outcomes and satisfaction, through the Ontario Health Quality Council.
• The government is currently consulting on regulations under the new Long Term Care Homes Act, which will introduce new measures to improve care, including the least use of restraints, and improve resident safeguards.
• More than half of the long-term care homes in the province, representing 35,000 older long-term care beds, will be upgraded over the next ten years.

Find out more about personal care and support online

Find out more about the Ontario Long-Term Care Association 

Backgrounder :

• Personal Support Worker Allocations
• Personal Support Workers in Long-Term Care Homes

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