With the expectation that the federal government is close to concluding a 10-year deal with the provincial and territorial governments over health spending, there is an historic opportunity to invest in Canadian seniors’ care and Canada’s long-term care homes.
Too often, seniors care has received less attention than other demographics – the chronic underfunding of long-term care homes across Canada has created structural issues that present obstacles to the long-term sustainability of the system. Widespread staffing shortages and outdated infrastructure are structural issues that need to be addressed in order for homes to . This will require a serious investment in our homes.
As Canada’s governments finalize negotiations over the future of health transfers, CALTC and its members are calling for a deliberate and sizeable investment in seniors care, and particularly long-term care homes.
We are calling for the development of a sustainable funding model which provides for appropriate staffing models, up-to-date clinical assessment tools and data software, quality food and nutrition, recreation and social activities, support for family caregivers, and all operational supports that allow homes to provide quality long-term care.
We need governments to make immediate and sustained investments in short-term and long-term recruitment and retention strategies to ensure there is a pipeline of skilled staff to work in long-term care homes.
We also need dedicated infrastructure funding to ensure seniors have access to modern, liveable homes with world-class infection prevention and control measures which keep residents safe.
Resident-centred care is the priority for all long-term care homes in Canada. This is the standard to which we aspire, but our system is currently built on poor foundations. Building strong foundations and establishing a sustainable system for the future will require the coordinated efforts of long-term care homes, provincial and territorial governments and the federal government.
We have an historic opportunity to address these challenges, we cannot wait.
