Ontario is increasing the number of comprehensive inspections of long-term care homes to strengthen safety and improve care for residents.
“The people of Ontario expect the highest standard of care in their long-term care homes, as well they should,” Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care said in a press release. “Since 2010, we’ve strengthened inspections in long-term care homes, but there is more to do. That’s why we’re renewing our commitment to annual, proactive inspections, and adding enough new inspectors to get the job done.”
The province is hiring more inspectors to perform more unannounced comprehensive inspections in long-term care homes.
Each location will receive a new inspection by the end of 2014 and annually thereafter.
All 633 long-term care homes in the province will receive annual inspections. This builds on the 6,700 inspections conducted since 2010.
Long-term care funding is projected to increase to $3.83 billion in 2013-14 from $2.12 billion in 2003-04.
This includes a two per cent increase dedicated to resident care needs proposed in the 2013-14 budget.
Ontario has invested $43 million in Behavioural Supports Ontario to help care for residents with dementia and challenging behaviours and will invest $22.7 million over the next five years to establish Centres for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care.
