Ontario Struggles to Meet Long-Term Care Residents’ Care Targets

Ontario recently fell short of its own legislated target for the average number of hands-on hours of care provided to long-term care residents, according to a newly updated document. The province acknowledges that it has since met its goal for the 2023-24 fiscal year, albeit outside the timeframe set by the Progressive Conservative government in a 2021 law.

While the government continues to work towards ensuring residents receive four hours per day of direct care from nurses and personal support workers by the end of the current fiscal year next March, it missed the target of three hours and 42 minutes by March 31 of this year.

The updated report, quietly added to the 2020 staffing plan on the Ontario government’s website, reveals that the province exceeded its direct hours of care target from the previous year in the first quarter of the 2024-25 financial year.

Ongoing Staffing Shortages

Warnings from bureaucrats to the long-term care minister’s predecessor about the risk of missing targets due to staffing shortages were issued about a year ago. Despite efforts to address the shortfall, the need for 13,200 additional nurses and 37,700 personal support workers in Ontario persists.

Ricardo McKenzie, director of long-term care for SEIU Healthcare, emphasizes that improving direct hours of care hinges on addressing staffing shortages through offering stable, well-paying jobs to workers.

Quality vs. Quantity of Care for Patients

High turnover rates among personal support workers, reaching up to 38% annually, raise concerns about the quality of care provided to residents. While meeting care hour targets is important, building relationships between residents and caregivers is equally crucial for quality care.

Long-term care homes are increasingly relying on costly agency staff to fill shifts temporarily, impacting the overall cost of care provision.

Workers Leaving for Higher-Paying Positions

The disparity in wages within the health system contributes to workers leaving long-term care for better-paying opportunities elsewhere. Equalizing wages across healthcare sectors could help retain staff and improve care quality.

Province Failing on Transparency Promise, Opposition Says

The government’s failure to transparently report on its progress towards care targets has drawn criticism from opposition parties. Despite citing challenges such as the lasting effects of the pandemic and workforce shortages, the government must take more concrete steps to address these issues and improve care for long-term care residents.