Anthony Says Frontline Versus Hotline

North Bay City Councillor Mike Anthony says the provincial legislation introduced Tuesday to provide a stronger 'bill of rights' for long-term care residents, as well as offer whistleblower protection to improve long-term care in Ontario doesn’t go far enough.

Anthony says he is pleased to see that long-term care is one the government’s radar and that they are trying to do the right thing, but says ‘they’re not doing things right’.

He says the latest move does not begin to address the serious problem of chronic short falls institutions like Cassellholme Home for the Aged have to battle every day. Anthony says instead of a hotline he would prefer to see the government live up to the 2003 election promise to increase long-term care funding to $6,000 per resident.

"Both my mom and Colleen (his wife) were nurses, so health care is dear to me," says Anthony.

“I want the money put in the frontline versus a hotline."

Anthony wants the government to fix the inequity of funding that is happening between hospitals and long-term facilities and bring Cassellholme's and other like institutions funding up to par.

The Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) indicated during an earlier presentation to council they have a strong interest to work with the city and advocate to have the imbalance of funding rectified, and Anthony says he intends to push forward on that promise.

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Tuesday’s Media Release:

The McGuinty government is enhancing the quality of life for residents of long-term care homes by introducing new legislation that, if passed, would strengthen enforcement and improve care and accountability, Monique Smith, MPP for Nipissing announced today on behalf of Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman.

“This is about improving the health and quality of life of people living in long-term care homes,” said Smith. “There are 618 long-term care homes in Ontario that are homes for our parents, grandparents, and other loved ones. They deserve the best possible care.”

Highlights of the proposed Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2006 include:

- Entrenching in legislation an enhanced Bill of Rights for residents;

- Promoting zero tolerance of abuse and neglect of long-term care home residents;

- Whistle-blowing protections for staff, residents and volunteers who report abuse or neglect;

- Enshrining in legislation that a registered nurse be on duty in the home 24 hours a day, seven days a week;

- Restricting the use of restraints to limited circumstances where it is absolutely necessary and only with appropriate safeguards;

- Defining licence terms for long-term care homes of up to 25 years; licences can be revoked in cases of non-compliance

“This legislation is about reintroducing the concept of ‘home’ and ‘care’ into the daily life of residents who live in long-term care homes,” Smith said. “I have been working on this important issue over the course of the last three years. By meeting with hundreds of residents, employees, family members, and advocates, I learned that Ontarians want long-term care for their loved ones that allows them to live with dignity and in security, safety, and comfort. The proposed legislation will enshrine the principle of resident-centered care in our long-term care homes.”

Liberal MPP Monique Smith, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Health and MPP for Nipissing, was assigned to review the long-term care system in Ontario in the winter of 2003. She travelled throughout the province consulting with residents and operators to prepare the report Commitment to Care: A Plan for Long-Term Care in Ontario which was presented in May 2004. This report formed the basis for legislative change. In the fall of 2004 the government released a discussion paper entitled Future Directions for Legislation Governing Long-Term Care Homes. The paper was distributed broadly across the province to stakeholders. Smith consulted with over 35 groups, and more than 700 Ontarians responded to the paper in writing or through public meetings held in various locations around the province in early 2005. This input is reflected in the proposed legislation.

Today’s announcement is just one example of how the McGuinty government is on the side of Ontario families concerned about quality care in long-term care homes. Other Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care initiatives include:

- Providing $118 million to improve home care and community support services

- Investing over $165 million for 21,897 additional hip and knee joint replacements as part of the Wait Time Strategy

- Putting together an integrated stroke care system that consists of nine regional stroke centres, 18 district stroke centres and 24 stroke prevention clinics

The proposed law is part of the McGuinty government’s plan for innovation in public health care, building a system that delivers on three priorities – keeping Ontarians healthy, reducing wait times and providing better access to doctors and nurses.

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