Ontario makes program aimed at keeping seniors out of hospital permanent
Natalia Kusendova-Bashta says the Community Paramedicine for Long-Term Care program has served more than 81,000 people since launching as a pilot project in 2020 and expanding across the province in 2022.
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Toronto Sun
15 hours ago
- Toronto Sun
Ontario just shy of direct care meeting target for LTC residents
While the government met its interim targets, it did not reach the third-year or final targets, amid staffing challenges Published Aug 13, 2025 • 3 minute read Natalia Kusendova-Bashta, Ontario's long-term care minister, speaks Nov. 15, 2024 with John Scotland, CEO of S&R Group Limited, next to where a new building for Trillium Villa Nursing Home is under construction in Sarnia. Paul Morden/Postmedia Network Ontario failed to meet its legislated target for getting long-term care residents an average of four hours a day of direct care by March of this year, the government concedes, though it came quite close. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The Progressive Conservative government set the target aimed at boosting both the amount of direct care residents receive from nurses and personal support workers, as well as other health professionals such as physiotherapists, in a 2021 law. While the government met its interim targets in the following two years, starting at three hours of direct care, it did not reach the third-year or final targets, amid staffing challenges. In the last year, the average direct hours of nursing and PSW care in long-term care homes across the province was three hours and 49 minutes, or 95.5 per cent of that four-hour target, according to a report recently published by the Ministry of Long-Term Care, led by Minister Natalia Kusendova-Bashta. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The province will continue trying to increase the amount of direct care residents receive, the government wrote in its report. 'This includes addressing the challenges that affect the government's ability to recruit and retain qualified care staff at a pace that keeps up with the need of the province's aging population,' the report said. 'These challenges are further compounded by the construction of a record number of new and upgraded long-term care beds, an important government priority that will require even more staff to meet demand.' Ontario is aiming to get 30,000 net new long-term care beds built by 2028. The head of the association representing Ontario's non-profit homes said ensuring an average of nearly four hours of daily direct care for residents is a great achievement. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'I think the fact that they almost reached the target is excellent news, because there's been a lot of challenges with health human resources in the health-care sector,' said Lisa Levin, CEO of AdvantAge Ontario. The programs the government has put in place to increase the numbers of nurses, PSWs and other health professionals — at a cost of $4.9 billion over four years, the government says — has been helping, Levin said. Where more work needs to be done to close that gap is likely in northern and rural regions, she said. '(It's) where we're hearing from our members that they're having the most difficulty and are more reliant on temporary staff,' Levin said. The government identifies 'recruiting and retaining staff in some rural and remote communities' in the report as one of the challenges it needs to address to further increase direct hours of care. As well, it says another difficulty is 'competition for existing and new staff from primary care, home care and hospitals.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. AdvantAge Ontario and a coalition of eight other community health organizations have been urging the government to equalize pay within the sector so that health workers don't leave long-term care, for example, to get better pay doing the same work in hospitals. Levin and others have also been pushing the government to raise wages for registered practical nurses in order to help recruit and retain them. Personal support workers were given a $3-per-hour wage increase during the pandemic, and while that was a good move, it has left the RPNs who supervise them paid the same or even less, Levin said. Liberal long-term care critic Tyler Watt said it's great that the government is working on recruitment and retention strategies, but it should focus more on the retention side. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'I'm supportive and happy that the hours of direct care are going up, but there's still a lot that needs to be done to surpass that goal,' he said. 'We see a lot coming from the health minister and Premier (Doug) Ford about all these investments they're making into recruitment and training, again I applaud all of that … but they are severely lacking on any investments or initiatives to retain the current staff and expertise that are there.' In the 2021 law, Ontario also set a target of 36 minutes per day of care for residents by allied health professionals, such as physiotherapists and social workers, and that target was exceeded in all four years, the government report said, including reaching 45 minutes in the last year. Sunshine Girls Sunshine Girls Toronto Blue Jays Relationships Money News
Global News
18 hours ago
- Global News
Ontario just shy of meeting target of four hours direct care for LTC residents
Ontario failed to meet its legislated target for getting long-term care residents an average of four hours a day of direct care by March of this year, the government concedes, though it came quite close. The Progressive Conservative government set the target aimed at boosting both the amount of direct care residents receive from nurses and personal support workers, as well as other health professionals such as physiotherapists, in a 2021 law. While the government met its interim targets in the following two years, starting at three hours of direct care, it did not reach the third-year or final targets, amid staffing challenges. In the last year, the average direct hours of nursing and PSW care in long-term care homes across the province was three hours and 49 minutes, or 95.5 per cent of that four-hour target, according to a report recently published by the Ministry of Long-Term Care, led by Minister Natalia Kusendova-Bashta. Story continues below advertisement The province will continue trying to increase the amount of direct care residents receive, the government wrote in its report. 'This includes addressing the challenges that affect the government's ability to recruit and retain qualified care staff at a pace that keeps up with the need of the province's aging population,' the report said. 'These challenges are further compounded by the construction of a record number of new and upgraded long-term care beds, an important government priority that will require even more staff to meet demand.' Ontario is aiming to get 30,000 net new long-term care beds built by 2028. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The head of the association representing Ontario's non-profit homes said ensuring an average of nearly four hours of daily direct care for residents is a great achievement. 'I think the fact that they almost reached the target is excellent news, because there's been a lot of challenges with health human resources in the health-care sector,' said Lisa Levin, CEO of AdvantAge Ontario. The programs the government has put in place to increase the numbers of nurses, PSWs and other health professionals — at a cost of $4.9 billion over four years, the government says — has been helping, Levin said. Where more work needs to be done to close that gap is likely in northern and rural regions, she said. Story continues below advertisement '(It's) where we're hearing from our members that they're having the most difficulty and are more reliant on temporary staff,' Levin said. The government identifies 'recruiting and retaining staff in some rural and remote communities' in the report as one of the challenges it needs to address to further increase direct hours of care. As well, it says another difficulty is 'competition for existing and new staff from primary care, home care and hospitals.' AdvantAge Ontario and a coalition of eight other community health organizations have been urging the government to equalize pay within the sector so that health workers don't leave long-term care, for example, to get better pay doing the same work in hospitals. Levin and others have also been pushing the government to raise wages for registered practical nurses in order to help recruit and retain them. Personal support workers were given a $3-per-hour wage increase during the pandemic, and while that was a good move, it has left the RPNs who supervise them paid the same or even less, Levin said. Liberal long-term care critic Tyler Watt said it's great that the government is working on recruitment and retention strategies, but it should focus more on the retention side. 'I'm supportive and happy that the hours of direct care are going up, but there's still a lot that needs to be done to surpass that goal,' he said. Story continues below advertisement 'We see a lot coming from the health minister and Premier (Doug) Ford about all these investments they're making into recruitment and training, again I applaud all of that … but they are severely lacking on any investments or initiatives to retain the current staff and expertise that are there.' In the 2021 law, Ontario also set a target of 36 minutes per day of care for residents by allied health professionals, such as physiotherapists and social workers, and that target was exceeded in all four years, the government report said, including reaching 45 minutes in the last year.
Winnipeg Free Press
20 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Ontario just shy of meeting target of four hours direct care for LTC residents
TORONTO – Ontario failed to meet its legislated target for getting long-term care residents an average of four hours a day of direct care by March of this year, the government concedes, though it came quite close. The Progressive Conservative government set the target aimed at boosting both the amount of direct care residents receive from nurses and personal support workers, as well as other health professionals such as physiotherapists, in a 2021 law. While the government met its interim targets in the following two years, starting at three hours of direct care, it did not reach the third-year or final targets, amid staffing challenges. In the last year, the average direct hours of nursing and PSW care in long-term care homes across the province was three hours and 49 minutes, or 95.5 per cent of that four-hour target, according to a report recently published by the Ministry of Long-Term Care, led by Minister Natalia Kusendova-Bashta. The province will continue trying to increase the amount of direct care residents receive, the government wrote in its report. 'This includes addressing the challenges that affect the government's ability to recruit and retain qualified care staff at a pace that keeps up with the need of the province's aging population,' the report said. 'These challenges are further compounded by the construction of a record number of new and upgraded long-term care beds, an important government priority that will require even more staff to meet demand.' Ontario is aiming to get 30,000 net new long-term care beds built by 2028. The head of the association representing Ontario's non-profit homes said ensuring an average of nearly four hours of daily direct care for residents is a great achievement. 'I think the fact that they almost reached the target is excellent news, because there's been a lot of challenges with health human resources in the health-care sector,' said Lisa Levin, CEO of AdvantAge Ontario. The programs the government has put in place to increase the numbers of nurses, PSWs and other health professionals — at a cost of $4.9 billion over four years, the government says — has been helping, Levin said. Where more work needs to be done to close that gap is likely in northern and rural regions, she said. '(It's) where we're hearing from our members that they're having the most difficulty and are more reliant on temporary staff,' Levin said. The government identifies 'recruiting and retaining staff in some rural and remote communities' in the report as one of the challenges it needs to address to further increase direct hours of care. As well, it says another difficulty is 'competition for existing and new staff from primary care, home care and hospitals.' AdvantAge Ontario and a coalition of eight other community health organizations have been urging the government to equalize pay within the sector so that health workers don't leave long-term care, for example, to get better pay doing the same work in hospitals. Levin and others have also been pushing the government to raise wages for registered practical nurses in order to help recruit and retain them. Personal support workers were given a $3-per-hour wage increase during the pandemic, and while that was a good move, it has left the RPNs who supervise them paid the same or even less, Levin said. Liberal long-term care critic Tyler Watt said it's great that the government is working on recruitment and retention strategies, but it should focus more on the retention side. 'I'm supportive and happy that the hours of direct care are going up, but there's still a lot that needs to be done to surpass that goal,' he said. 'We see a lot coming from the health minister and Premier (Doug) Ford about all these investments they're making into recruitment and training, again I applaud all of that … but they are severely lacking on any investments or initiatives to retain the current staff and expertise that are there.' In the 2021 law, Ontario also set a target of 36 minutes per day of care for residents by allied health professionals, such as physiotherapists and social workers, and that target was exceeded in all four years, the government report said, including reaching 45 minutes in the last year. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 13, 2025.
