The province announced this morning it plans to double the number of long-term care home inspectors by next fall.
The $20 million investment was announced by long-term care minister Rod Phillips and includes the launch of a new proactive inspections program.
Phillips added the province’s plan to fix long-term care will involve improving staffing and care; better accountability, enforcement, and transparency; and building modern, safe, comfortable homes for seniors.
Phillips added it is part of the government’s commitment of $72.3 million over three years to increase enforcement capacity and ensure every long-term care home resident experiences the safest and best quality of life.
Phillips stressed the new program will take a resident-centred approach by allowing for direct discussion with them and employing inspectors with an investigative background.
Phillips stressed some of these new inspectors will have the skills and certification to allow for laying provincial charges when warranted.
However, Natalie Mehra, executive director of the Ontario Health Coalition noted there is no commitment on the part of the province to reinstate annual comprehensive inspections.
“The fact that the minister pointedly did not promise a reinstatement of the in-depth surprise inspections that the Ford government cancelled after it took office is a major failure. It neither conforms to what the Long-Term Care Commission recommended, nor does it serve the public interest. It does, however, suit the interests of the for-profit long-term care industry that has long lobbied against annual comprehensive surprise inspections.”
