(This article was written in mid August and reflects the knowledge and situations at that time.)

Regrettably, the apprehensions expressed about the state of Ontario’s health care in the last edition of Accent of Algoma were proven to be well founded. The letter from Martha Foster, Chair of the RTO-ERO Board of Directors, to Health Minister Christine Elliott outlined concerns about gaps and cuts to health services for seniors. Hospital overcrowding and the personal support worker (PSW) crisis in long-term care was the focus of an article outlining reports of the suffering existing in hospitals and long-term care homes long before COVID-19.

These issues are far from new. Present and preceding provincial governments were long ago alerted to the alarming conditions in hospitals and long-term care. And over the years there have been many reports, articles and television documentaries outlining the deplorable conditions in long-term care homes. Little to no effective action was ever taken. And then the pandemic struck with a vengeance never before seen. And we had a catastrophe – a nightmare long in the making.

As of August 15, Ontario has had 42,437 cases of COVID-19 and 2,835 deaths. Many southern Ontario hospitals, already pushed to the limit with unsafe levels of overcrowding, were hard pressed to accommodate the needs of COVID-19 patients. Thankfully, through the concerted cooperation of Ontarians, we were able to “flatten the curve”. But overcrowded hospital conditions still exist. What will happen if there is a second wave? Medical experts are almost certain that a second wave will occur with an increased number of cases and fatalities.

It took revelations from Canada’s military to compel the Ontario government to acknowledge the horrendous and intolerable conditions in long-term care. These conditions fuelled the coronavirus allowing it to “spread like wildfire” and led to unimaginable suffering and needless deaths in numerous long-term care homes. Of the coronavirus deaths in Ontario, 1,800 residents in Ontario’s long-term care homes and eight workers have died of COVID-19.

 According to a survey conducted by the Ontario Health Coalition from July 10 to July 17, 2020 many long-term care residents continue to go without their basic needs being met largely due to severe staffing shortages. (www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca)

 Why didn’t Ontario act sooner to improve the conditions for seniors in long-term care? The government certainly had the information. And what will Ontario do now?

Let’s hope the province gets it right this time and makes sure our long-term care residents are housed in clean, safe facilities where they receive appropriate care and the dignity and respect they deserve. It is high time the province instituted a 4-hour minimum standard of front-line care for each resident.

But the Caring In Crisis Report of 2019 uses stark statistics to show us that the long-term care crisis will not be solved unless more qualified staff is available. The increased numbers and acuity of long–term care residents, the extremely poor working conditions and pay of personal support workers, and the low recruitment and retention of PSWs must all be addressed.

In July Premier Ford announced $1.75 billion for new long-term care beds and renovations. This is actually a re-announcement of funding slated before COVID-19 to build new beds and renovate existing beds. But increasing the number of beds will not be enough when there is a critical shortage of long-term care staff. No money has been announced to improve care and staffing levels.

Moreover, even though there have been widespread calls to make long-term care an integral part of the public health care system and not-for-profit, the Ford government has not moved to do so. 57% of Ontario’s nursing homes are for-profit institutions. That is the largest percentage in Canada. Researchers Nathan Stall, Aaron Jones, Kevin Brown, Paula Rochon and Andrew Costa looked at all 623 long-term care homes in Ontario from March 29 to May 20, 2020, tallying COVID-19 outbreaks, cases and deaths. Their research suggests that 85% of chain-operated for-profit homes have a significantly higher risk of worse COVID-19 outcomes and more related deaths than non-profit or municipally run homes. (Study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, July 2020)

Dr. Samir Sinha, a Toronto-based geriatrician not involved in the study, said 30,000 long-term care beds in Ontario are in dire need of upgrades. “Many of these older multi-bedded homes happen to be owned by for-profits,” Sinha said. “The study really speaks to the need to redevelop that.” (Canadian Press, July 22, 2020)

Public taxes and residents’ fees fund long-term care homes. Taxpayer money is given to private healthcare corporations that pay out rich dividends to private shareholders. In the last three months of the pandemic long-term care corporations paid shareholders many millions of dollars. Long-term care residents continue to live without adequate care.

According to the Canadian Medical Association Journal commentary (July, 2020), “If requirements to fund adequate levels of staffing affect the bottom lines of for-profit facilities, then it might be time for this care to be turned over to public and non-profit entities.”

We should all think about that.

Nightmares can reoccur.

Submitted by Marie DellaVedova, Member at Large