October 20th, 2020
October 20th, 2020
QUEEN’S PARK — On Tuesday, Andrea Horwath will force a vote in the Ontario legislature on a motion to get for-profit companies out of long-term care, and replace them with an all non-profit and public system.
“COVID-19 revealed a disaster behind the walls of long-term care homes. More than 1,900 people have died, shattering thousands of families. And a second wave is upon us. We need to take action to protect seniors this time, and we have to do it now,” said Horwath. “Then, after we make it out of this nightmare together, we need to fix the system for good. This pandemic ravaged long-term care homes because the system is a disaster – and it’s been getting worse for decades.”
Analyses have shown that for-profit long-term care homes were more dangerous during the pandemic. Residents who contracted COVID-19 were more likely to die if they lived in a for-profit facility. But even before the pandemic, the conditions were horrific, said Horwath.
“A revolving door of underpaid, part-time and temp workers, run off their feet in care homes so understaffed that seniors are regularly neglected. Folks sick with dehydration and malnourishment, languishing in gloomy, institution-like facilities,” said Horwath.
“We can put an end to the days of short-changing our loved ones to pad the profits of private shareholders. We can ban greedy corporations from the sector, and make long-term care public and not-for-profit, so every last dollar goes into better care, a better quality of life for aging Ontarians, and more peace of mind for families.”
Horwath has released a comprehensive plan, called Aging Ontarians Deserve the Best. Taking for-profit corporations out of long-term care is one foundational piece of her detailed commitment to support Ontarians to live at home longer, and feel at home if they do enter long-term care.
The Mike Harris Conservative government privatized long-term care, and cut one out of every 12 of its hospital and long-term care staff – firing nearly 25,000 health care workers. The Liberals, including Dalton McGuinty, Kathleen Wynne and Steven Del Duca, let private companies roll in, and cut corners to pocket bigger profits in nursing homes. Freezes and lack of investment saw Kathleen Wynne’s government build just 611 individual long-term care beds between 2011 and 2018, while the wait list ballooned by 78 per cent. Ford has built just 34 individual long-term care beds, and is planning another $34 million in cuts. Both parties cut inspections, and blocked public inquiries into long-term care.
Background
Text of Andrea Horwath’s motion
Whereas successive Conservative and Liberal governments built a system where big, private corporations warehouse seniors in institutional facilities, and have failed to hold accountable for-profit long-term care operators who did not keep their residents safe; and
Whereas more than two-thirds of COVID-19-related deaths occurred in long-term care homes during the first wave of the pandemic, with data revealing that COVID-19 deaths were more frequent in for-profit long-term care homes than those operated by municipalities or non-profit organizations; and
Whereas not-for-profit long-term care means more money is available for care, not profits;
Therefore, the Legislative Assembly of Ontario calls on the Ford Government to eliminate for-profit care from Ontario’s long-term care system.
The Official Opposition’s plan: Aging Ontarians Deserve the Best
The NDP plan includes:
1. Overhauling home care to help people live at home longer
Ending the for-profit, understaffed patchwork of home care companies that make seniors wait and fail to address the inequities. This includes bringing the system into the public and non-profit sectors over eight years, as well as new provincial standards for home care services, and culturally-appropriate resources, training and job-matching
2. Making all long-term care public and not-for-profit
Ending greedy profit-making at the expense of quality of care. Horwath is committing to phase out for-profit operators within eight years, and increasing financial reporting, transparency and accountability during the transition period.
3. Building small, modern, family-like homes
The gloom of being warehoused in institution-like facilities is over. An NDP government will immediately start building small nursing homes that actually feel like home. Based on best practices from around the world, the NDP will build smaller living spaces shared by groups of six to 10 people. In a small town, it could look like a typical family home. In bigger cities, it could look more like a neighbourhood of villas.
4. Staffing up with full-time, well-paid, well-trained caregivers
Instead of the revolving door of staff run off their feet, the NDP will give personal support workers a permanent wage boost of $5 an hour over their pre-pandemic wages. The NDP will mandate enough staff to guarantee at least 4.1 hours of hands-on care per resident per day, establish a dedicated fund for training personal support workers, and more.
5. Making family caregivers partners
The NDP will treat loved ones like more than just visitors, including creating a provincial Caregiver Benefit Program and ensuring every home has an active family and resident council.
6. Creating 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. This includes partnering with communities, Indigenous nations and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities to fund community homes, and more.
7. Clearing the wait list
Clearing the 38,000-person wait list that can mean years waiting for a bed, and even longer for a culturally appropriate home. The NDP will create up to 50,000 spaces and eliminate the wait list within eight years.
8. Guaranteeing new and stronger protections
Comprehensive inspections, a Seniors’ Advocate, and more will ensure care never goes downhill again.