Horwath calls for four hours of care standard in nursing homes to be implemented in 2021

OTTAWA — NDP leader Andrea Horwath was in Ottawa Monday to call for an urgent staff-up in long-term care homes, so that every resident can be offered a minimum of four hours of hands-on care every day.

Horwath and the NDP have been fighting for a minimum four-hours standard for years — but Doug Ford has pushed the goal off to 2025. Horwath teamed up with the Council on Aging of Ottawa Monday to send the message: seniors can’t wait that long. They need the four-hour standard to be legislated urgently, and fully implemented before the end of 2021.

“Doug Ford didn’t invest in protecting seniors during the pandemic, and nearly 4,000 precious loved ones died, in the midst of a humanitarian disaster where people were dying of neglect. But the problems didn’t start or end with COVID. Right now in Ontario, staff are run off their feet. Some people are left immobile until they develop painful bed sores. Many can’t get help with the basics, like brushing their teeth, getting to the bathroom on time, or eating enough,” said Horwath.

“Imagine instead having enough staff in nursing homes to give our loved ones meals that aren’t rushed, and dignified help with hygiene. Imagine the peace of mind families could have knowing there’s someone to listen, to care, and to protect our parents and grandparents when we can’t be there.”

In Ottawa alone, 289 nursing home residents died as a result of the pandemic, along with three front-line hero workers. After years of cuts and privatization by Liberal and Conservative governments, the majority of nursing homes in Ontario are owned by for-profit corporations, focused on keeping staffing costs low so they can pocket more profits.

Ford chose not to staff up care homes as COVID-19 tore through them. In contrast, British Columbia quickly hired 7,000 new long-term care staff and Quebec added 10,000 new staff to protect seniors from COVID-19. Horwath said that shows that an urgent staff up is possible.

“Our precious parents and grandparents can’t wait for better, safer care,” said Horwath. “My priority is creating a long-term care system that protects seniors’ quality of life as they age, instead of taking it away.”

Horwath said the urgent steps that need to be taken include passing the NDP’s legislation on the four-hour minimum standard; permanently improving the wages and benefits for long-term care workers like PSWs, and making their jobs full-time; and undertaking a massive recruitment and training effort.

Quote

Nancy Garrard, Chair of the Long-Term Care Committee, Council on Aging of Ottawa:

"Seniors are losing faith in Ontario’s long-term care homes and need to see concrete action that their provincial government cares and will not forget them post-pandemic."

Background

Horwath and the NDP have released a comprehensive home care and long-term care platform, which lays out a detailed plan to make the entire system public and not-for-profit, create 50,000 new spaces, and end the wait for home care and long-term care. Horwath and the NDP’s home care and long-term care platform, Aging Ontarians Deserve the Best, includes concrete plans to:

Overhaul home care to help people live at home longer

The NDP will end the for-profit, understaffed, patchwork of home care companies that make seniors wait and fail to address inequities

Make all long-term care public and not-for-profit

The NDP will stop greedy profit-making at the expense of quality of care

Build small, modern, family-like homes

The gloom of being warehoused in institution-like facilities is over

Staff up with full-time, well-paid, well-trained caregivers

Instead of the revolving door of staff run off their feet

Make family caregivers partners

The NDP will guarantee that loved ones are treated like more than just visitors

Create culturally responsive, inclusive and affirming care

The NDP will make sure seniors feel at home, surrounded by their language and culture, and make sure 2SLGBTQIA+ seniors can always live with Pride

Clear the wait list

Instead of 38,000 people waiting years for a bed, and even longer for a culturally appropriate home, Horwath and the NDP will end the waits completely

Guarantee new and stronger protections

The NDP is committed to comprehensive inspections, a Seniors’ Advocate, and more