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Created March 3, 2003  



Print a copy of the 'Do your share' campaign postcard and drop it off at a partcipating long-term care home in your area by March 6. Click here.

R E L A T E D  A R T I C L E S

Two OMNI homes hit campaign target
 February 26, 2003 J Driscoll
SELBY Two OMNI homes have already gone over the top in the postcard campaign and several others are expressing confidence they can do the same. Full Story

Streamway leads campaign
Home office triples
its goal
 February 25, 2003 N Miller
COBOURG Streamway Villa is leading the way. Full Story

Springdale aiming for up to 500 postcards
 OLTCA campaign
in high gear
 February 24, 2003 R Benns
 SPRINGVILLE With 150 signed postcards already back, Pauline Dainard, administrator at Springdale Country Manor, is hoping for up to 500 by this time next week. Full Story

Resident’s daughter collects more than 200 signatures
Monday February 24, 2003 Natalie Miller
 NORWOOD Evelyn Stewart is on a mission. Full Story

West Lake anxious for more cards as home hits the ground running
Thursday February 20, 2003 Roderick Benns
PICTON By the end of the week, Mary Lynn Lester, administrator at West Lake Terrace, is hoping for another big delivery of post cards. Full Story


Flu outbreak sets Kentwood back
 February 26, 2003 J Driscoll
PICTON Kentwood Park has had to put its long-term-care postcard campaign on hold for a very legitimate reason – a major flu outbreak. Full Story

 

A R C H I V E D 
F E A T U R E S


Residents benefit from new funding
 
OLTCA campaign for new dollars


 

  

'Do Your Share' OLTCA Campaign
Government must do its share says long-term care group
Wednesday February 12, 2003 Peter Pula
A government-sponsored level of service study ranks Ontario at the bottom of its list when it comes to a commitment to long-term care.

A government-sponsored level of service study ranks Ontario at the bottom of its list when it comes to a commitment to long-term care.

Last year the government mandated a 15 per cent increase to the fees paid by residents for their care. And, in a recent Ipsos-Reid poll, 72 per cent of Ontarians surveyed say long-term care should be a funding priority for their provincial government.

These are the cornerstones of a case for more appropriate funding the Ontario Long Term Care Association (OLTCA) seeks to deliver to the Ontario government, with the endorsement of families and friends of long-term care residents.

At one of three meetings held last week to launch a campaign for new care dollars, the OLTCA declared that an additional $10/day/resident must be added to operating funding this year, and again next year. And the lion’s share needs to come from the government, not from residents says the association's president, Fraser Wilson.

Fraser Wilson
Last year, 55,000 people petitioned the Ontario Government to respond to care-level deficiencies with improved funding the government responded by mandating a $7.02 daily fee increase to cover the bill, to be paid by residents.

After public outcry, the province agreed to phase the resident fee increase in over three years, and cover the difference. Residents will still pay $2/day more this year, and again next year. Presenting to a group of operators in Mississauga, Fraser says it is time for the government to do its share.

Despite recent funding increases Ontario is still the lowest funded of any of the 11 jurisdictions studied in 2001 government-sponsored level of service study, Fraser says.

"Residents still receive 45 fewer minutes of care each day than residents in Saskatchewan did in 1999. There is still not enough staff to provide the one-to-one small group and evening weekend programming recommended by the government's own Compliance Advisors," he says.

Fraser also reports that nine out of 10 residents do not get the physical therapy, and less than half get the special exercises, they require to maintain their health.

"Nine out of 10 residents need assistance to dress and eat. Eight out of 10 residents require some assistance to move around and six out of 10 residents suffer from dementia or related disorders," he says.

During his presentation Fraser argues that as the care needs associated with multiple dementia and an older population have become more demanding there has been no real additional funding.

Fraser also points out that the introduction of 20,000 new beds to the sector, and the redevelopment of older and structurally non-compliant beds, will create inequality of access to accommodation.

"There are 41,000 residents who will live in a second class of living and privacy in homes built before current standards were introduced," he says.

"We need to stand up and raise a voice on behalf of those who cannot," says Fraser.

Karen Sullivan
Karen Sullivan, the association's executive director says the campaign is clear about exactly where money is needed.

"We have deliberately designed a campaign that puts the dollars specifically where they are needed most," she says.

Both Fraser and Sullivan say that as a result of last year's campaign families have a far more sophisticated understanding of the issues.

" The difference in the questions and awareness this year over last year is phenomenal," says Sullivan.

" Families have a sophisticated understanding of the issues this year. We can put this campaign on the map for MPP's in their home communities. We can make it real.

“ We cannot run the risk of letting long-term care slip off the public issues agenda," he says.

" It is time for the government to do their share."
The campaign to deliver more than 55,000 signed postcards supporting the funding increases will be rolled out in participating homes during the next few weeks.
     
   
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