'We need to fix it quickly,' Ontario's long-term care sector faces staffing crisis due to pandemic
Ontario's long-term care sector was devastated by thousands of deaths as COVID-19 ravaged homes, infecting the vulnerable residents inside.
In many cases, seniors' homes were overcrowded, understaffed and unprepared for the pandemic.
Now, the Ontario Long-Term Care Association (OLTCA) is calling for change and help.
"We know what's wrong. We know what we need to fix, and we know that we need to fix it quickly," said OLTCA CEO Donna Duncan.
Duncan heads the association representing 70 per cent of homes in the province, for which there are 630.
She said the sector faces a staffing crisis and is struggling to retain and attract staff to work in seniors' homes, while 30,000 Ontario residents wanting to move in are waitlisted.
Duncan said the situation is unacceptable.
"Far too many people are still in hospitals. Home care is not a viable option for so many of these people, and we have to make it better. We absolutely have to do better," she said.
The OLTCA reports there are currently nine long-term care home outbreaks, compared to 65 this time last year.
Safety measures called for a reduction of resident spaces by 4,500 to allow physical distancing with no more than two residents per room.
Duncan is appealing to the province to work with the sector to restore accountability and trust in homes with firm penalties, tools, and supports to ensure the focus is on residents and their loved ones.
"We've got to make sure that the legislation will allow for us to provide the level of care that our residents need when they need it," Duncan finished.
Of the 262 Simcoe Muskoka residents who lost their lives after becoming infected with COVID-19, roughly 40 per cent were in long-term care.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Poilievre will do 'anything to win,' must condemn Alex Jones endorsement: Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is ramping up his attacks on Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre as he promotes his government's federal budget.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
New evidence challenges the Pentagon's account of a horrific attack as the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan: CNN exclusive
New video evidence uncovered by CNN significantly undermines two Pentagon investigations into an ISIS-K suicide attack outside Kabul airport, during the American withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
All Alberta wildfires to date in 2024 believed to be human-caused: province
There are 63 wildfires burning in Alberta's forest protection area as of Wednesday morning and seven mutual aid fires, including one in the Municipal District of Peace.
Suspects waving weapons, smashing glass in Toronto jewelry store robbery caught on video
Arrests have been made after five men were captured on video rampaging through a jewelry store in Toronto, waving weapons and smashing glass display cases.
Pilot proposes to flight attendant girlfriend in front of passengers
A Polish pilot proposed to his flight attendant girlfriend during a flight from Warsaw to Krakow, and she said yes.
Ottawa injects another $36M into fund for those seriously injured or killed by vaccines
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Ex-SNC executive sentenced to prison term in bridge bribery case
The RCMP says a former SNC-Lavalin executive has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison in connection with a bribery scheme for a bridge repair contract in Montreal.