ONTARIO-The Ontario government introduced the Support for Seniors and Caregivers Act, 2024 on Thursday. The proposed legislation includes a $114-million suite of initiatives that include enhanced dementia care and supports, assistance for families and caregivers, and by creating more opportunities for seniors to build stronger social connections in their community according to the province.
“Our government is determined to give the best possible care to the people who raised us,” said Natalia Kusendova-Bashta, Minister of Long-Term Care. “That’s why we are working across government to ensure Ontario’s seniors can enjoy the best possible quality of life, supported by safe, high-quality care.”
“Our government is continuing to take action to ensure that Ontarians have access to the health care and services they need, at every stage of life,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “This investment will improve access to high-quality dementia care across the province, allowing more seniors and their loved ones to connect to the compassionate services and supports they need, in their community.”
The proposed legislative amendments are meant to aid seniors whether they live in long-term care homes, retirement homes or with their families. Initiatives span across the ministries of Long-Term Care, Health, and Seniors and Accessibility.
The proposed Support for Seniors and Caregivers Act, 2024, would, if passed:
- Invest almost $80 million over three years to improve and expand dementia care and supports to support the well-being of seniors, their caregivers, and families. This includes requiring all long-term care homes to have a dementia care program and giving primary care providers the tools and resources needed to connect people to fast, effective and high-quality dementia care
- Expand adult day programs and respite services to provide recreational and social programs for people living with dementia, while giving their loved ones a much-needed break
- Further strengthening protections for long-term care residents against abuse and neglect, and enhancing the province’s ability to investigate and prosecute offences under the Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021
- Strengthen the existing requirements for long-term care homes to recognize and respect, at a minimum, the cultural, linguistic, religious, and spiritual needs of residents. This includes new regulations that require long-term care homes to increase information available in French.
According to CBC news Ontario failed to meet its own legislated target this past year for the average number of hands-on hours of care that long-term care residents receive.
The province says it has since reached its goal for the 2023-24 fiscal year, but that happened outside of the timeframe the Progressive Conservative government set out in a 2021 law said CBC
The first- and second-year interim targets were met according to CBC, but the target of three hours and 42 minutes by March 31 of this year was missed.
