News Releases

and Editorials

Editorial

ALL SYSTEMS FAILED

Many of us will remember watching in horror as two planes hit the World Trade Centre and another the Pentagon on September 11th, 2001 – exactly 20 years ago today. We will remember feeling sympathy for the families of the 2977 people lost, and we will also remember America going to war in two Middle Eastern countries not long afterwards.

There was outrage and there was sorrow.

Last year 15,459 residents became infected with COVID-19 in long term care facilities in Ontario. 3793 residents and 13 staff died......

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Editorial

WHY IS ONTARIO SO FAR BEHIND ON LONG TERM CARE?

Canada has long prided itself on being more socially conscious than the U.S., but something has gone awry when it comes to long term care.

Let’s examine the policy platform of the new President of the United States..........

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Editorial

A Home for Mom and Dad

We are all aware of the abysmal state of eldercare in Ontario, where home care is minimal, where attempting to support aging parents is often overwhelming for families, and where the absence of other choices forces thousands of old people into long term care institutions.

We know that a system that is based primarily on institutions (most of which are operated for profit) cannot provide elderly people with the support they require to have a good life. ..........

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Editorial

A TRANSFORMATIVE VISION FOR LONG TERM CARE IN ONTARIO

Christine McMillan is 91 years old, has a wealth of real world experience, and founded OASIS along with Brian Brophy while President of Frontenac Kingston Council on Aging. OASIS is a naturally occurring retirement community located in an apartment building owned by Homestead Landholding Inc. Hers and Brian’s intent was to build a community of tenants and introduce a program that would include formal and informal social events, exercise programs, guest speakers, skill sharing and other projects as well as affordably priced congregate dining. An onsite coordinator would help tenants to access community supports as their needs changed..........

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Editorial

Creating Change in an Entrenched

Long-Term Care System: Lessons from the Past

How to make significant change in long-term care is a huge challenge. Long- term care in Ontario has been entrenched for over 40 years, even though older adults do not aspire to be institutionalized. This entrenched system has withstood numerous scathing reports and inquiries, including the recent Commission Report, and yet little has changed. Most people would agree that this is a broken system.

Neither the federal government nor the provinces are showing the kind of leadership we need. The recent Commission Report fails to recommend alternatives that could have made a significant difference to the lives of our vulnerable elders. Also, advocacy for change remains limited and divided.

So how can an entrenched system like this be changed? .........

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Editorial

LIPSTICK ON A PIG?

A strange phenomenon has emerged in Ontario’s long term care landscape. We now have unions, some union-aligned academics and doctors, and multi-national long term care corporations all on the same page.

All are bleating out the same message that government needs to provide more funding for staff, better pay, and more hours of care.

Throw more money at long term care institutions and their staff! Throw more money at the over 60% for-profit long term care owned, operated, or managed system and those who staff it and it will fix problems in long term care. So goes the argument.

Some facts may be in order here. .......

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