OMNI and the OLTCA: Fruitful advocacy partnership
OMNI homes and the Ontario Long Term Care Association (OLTCA) are wrapping up another successful advocacy campaign. The previous two campaigns, launched by the OLTCA, have been able to “positively impact government direction and funding,” according to OMNI CEO Fraser Wilson. By the end of March last year, the Province had committed $100 million more to the long-term care envelope. Over 76,000 long-term care stakeholders throughout the province participated in last year’s post-card campaign. OMNI which represents about 3.5 per cent of the OLTCA’s beds was able to rally 20 per cent of the cards gathered.

This year’s campaign, which is using a balloting system, has been strongly endorsed by OMNI administrators. “This is a consultation that asks people most involved and most affected in long term care how they feel,” said Karl Samuelson, administrator at Garden Terrace in Kanata. “I endorse it 100 per cent….” Life Enrichment Co-ordinator, Darlene Thibault from Almonte Country Haven said she was “very excited about [the campaign].” Karl noted the media, bureaucrats, politicians and special interest groups have all weighed in on what the government’s priorities should be in long-term care. He said, “This is an opportunity for…those who matter most in long-term care to have their say.”

The poll, which listed 12 priorities for stakeholders to narrow down to their top five, is wrapped up April 16. West Lake Terrace’s Administrator Mary Lynn Lester promoted the campaign to her peers. While attending the Eastern Ontario Professionals for Infection Control meeting, Mary Lynn noticed “everyone was talking about how infection control funding has been cut.” At that point Mary Lynn “saw an opportunity to talk about the campaign.”

Meanwhile, the administrator of Woodland Villa in Long Sault said he fully expected support for the OLTCA campaign would focus on resident care this year. While Jean-Marc Lanoue said he couldn’t speak for the whole province, he did say “My sense is that people will vote for those options that support our residents.” A display booth was set up at Woodland to share information with visitors, staff and family members about the campaign.

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At Pleasant Meadow Manor people were talking about the campaign a lot, but no clear consensus had emerged, according to Administrator Connie Garden. “The posters are up, ballots are being filled, people have all the information about the campaign and they are definitely talking about it,” she said. Connie spoke to the residents’ council and the staff and families as well. “I think it is a very positive campaign and people here are interested in getting their voices heard,” Connie said. Pleasant Meadow alone delivered 777 signed postcards calling for more funding in last year’s campaign, twice the targeted goal.

OMNI’s largest home hopes the OLTCA campaign underlines the need for fair treatment of the long-term care sector. “Fair treatment in funding. Fair treatment in compliance. Fair treatment in managing expectations,” said Karl of Garden Terrace. “We have a double-standard in this province and it is simply wrong.” The Garden Terrace home sought to “educate people about the various issues without swaying them in one direction or another,” Karl noted. In addition, Karl noted stakeholders are taking this campaign very seriously. One resident made a matrix comparing each of the 12 points against the others so that he could determine the most important 5 points for himself. “This is very serious business and I hope that the new government accords long-term care the attention it deserves.”

Linda Pierce, administrator of Village Green also hopes the Province respects the results of the campaign. The Selby long-term care home took the time to complete “several lines of communication, a discussion with the staff and then a communication to the…groups that came to our home at a special diners’ day,” according to Linda. She also notes that, “we are an aging population….We need to recognize this and support the people who are working in long-term care.”

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