The Ontario government is proposing legislation that includes a $114-million suite of initiatives to improve the lives of seniors through enhanced dementia care and support, assistance for families and caregivers, and by creating more opportunities for seniors to build stronger social connections in their community.
“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, 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, investments and policies are designed to better support seniors and those who care for them, 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:
- Spend 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 strengthen 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.
By 2046, there will be 1.7 million more seniors living in Ontario.
As part of its plan to fix long-term care and address waitlists, the government is building 58,000 new and upgraded long-term care beds across the province.
Ontario is offering incentives of up to $25,400 to students and recent graduates of personal support worker education programs to launch careers in long-term care homes and in the home and community care sector.
"Every year as the number of older adults increases, we must do all we can to ensure seniors are healthy and socially connected to their communities. This legislation, once passed, will build on our government’s historic investments that keep seniors fit, active, engaged, close to their homes and most importantly end social isolation," said Raymond Cho, Minister for Seniors and Accessibility
