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| Significant changes to Long-Term Care Homes Act announced |
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Last week, the Ontario government tabled new omnibus legislation, the Strengthening Quality and Accountability for Patients Act, which contains specific changes proposed for the Long-Term Care Homes Act and oversight of long-term care homes.
The changes will include:
- new Provincial Offences Act fines that could potentially target homes, staff, and corporations for repeated non-compliance to orders;
- new enforcement mechanisms for the Director to suspend a licence, in addition to the existing power to revoke one;
- new provisions to permit the Minister to suspend a licence, and to make operational and policy directives in respect to long-term care homes; and
- provisions of the Act dealing with secure units will be repealed. Instead, a system will be enacted to deal with both the restraining and confining of residents.
The government had previously announced their intention to pursue some of these changes, and the scope is significant. You can read the government’s news release and backgrounder here and a copy of the legislation here.
Like all proposed legislation, this Act will go through a process where the public and stakeholders can provide feedback. The Association will be reviewing the details of the proposed changes and will be engaging with the government to present the sector’s perspective and concerns.
News coverage about this announcement has focused on the other changes proposed under the omnibus bill – particularly the requirement for increased transparency about payments and other value-added services that pharmacy companies provide in the health care system. Most of the attention is on the relationship between pharmaceutical companies and physicians. Click on the link to read a sample of this coverage, Ontario to force pharmaceutical companies to divulge payments to doctors.
The omnibus bill also addresses the retirement sector, as the proposed changes will strengthen the oversight powers of the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority (RHRA).
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| Conference opportunities – presenters and participants wanted |
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We are less than two months away from the Association’s acclaimed fall conference. If you have not yet registered for This is Long Term Care, to be held at the lakeside Westin Harbour Castle in downtown Toronto from November 27 to 29, be sure check out the program and register here.
This is Long Term Care consistently receives rave reviews from long-term care staff and will send you back to your homes with ideas, tools, and new connections to help make the changes you’ve been wanting to make.
We’re also looking for presentation ideas for Together We Care, to be held at the Toronto Congress Centre, April 9-11, 2018. The Call for Content closes in just two weeks, on October 16.
Applicants can submit abstracts for oral presentations under the following themes:
- Evolving operations to meet the needs of tomorrow's seniors
- Prevalent and emerging quality of care and quality of life issues
- Investing in our people - advancing leadership and workforce capacity
- Culinary and nutrition
For more information on how to submit your application, click here.
Don’t miss these opportunities to learn, network, and celebrate our collective achievements. I look forward to seeing you there!
- Candace Chartier, CEO
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| LTC eConnect form required by this Friday |
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Several bulletins have been issued in the last few weeks, urging long-term care organizations to submit their completed Client Information Form by October 6.
Many organizations have responded to recent communications about this deadline. But if your organization has not yet completed a Client Information Form, we need to hear from you by this Friday, October 6.
Please contact Dean Jin, LTC eConnect project manager, if you have any outstanding questions, or need support to fill out the form. He can be reached at djin@oltca.com or 416-994-8375.
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| Candace Chartier to address Economic Club of Canada on October 25 |
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Association CEO Candace Chartier will be addressing the Economic Club of Canada on Wednesday, October 25, where she will highlight the challenges currently facing long-term care and put forward a plan to provide residents with the care they deserve.
The event will be held at One King West Hotel (1 King Street West, Toronto) from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. Tickets are available for purchase directly from the Economic Club of Canada website and may be purchased in tables of 10 or as individual tickets. Your presence and support would be greatly appreciated.
More information about pricing for tickets and the event can be found here. If you would like to know more about the event, please contact Kim Lucchetta at klucchetta@oltca.com.
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| WSIB premiums to increase 4.9% |
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The WSIB recently released the rates for premiums for 2018. Long-term care homes will be facing an increase of 4.9%, starting January 1, 2018, in large part because a new health condition, chronic mental stress, will be covered as of 2018.
Homes for residential care, nursing services, and group homes are also facing an increase of 4.8% or 4.9%, in contrast to the average WSIB premium across all industries, which dropped by 3.3% for 2018.
The WSIB will be hosting technical sessions in the fall to provide information on how they calculate premium rates. For more information, visit the WSIB website here.
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| New media and crisis support for members |
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On Friday, the Association released a valuable new resource exclusively for members, called Issue Notes, with key messages and background resources to help homes respond to media enquiries on sensitive issues. A bulletin with links to this new resource was sent to owners and executives, administrators, directors of care, and communications leads. If you should have received a copy of this bulletin but did not, please contact Judy Irwin at jirwin@oltca.com.
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| HQO seeks feedback on new palliative care standard |
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In partnership with the Ontario Palliative Care Network, Health Quality Ontario is developing a quality standard for palliative care, outlining for patients and clinicians what quality care looks like. They are looking for feedback on this new standard by October 12. Click here to read the draft and provide your feedback.
This quality standard focuses on palliative care for adults with a progressive, life-limiting illness, and for their families, and caregivers. It addresses palliative care provided in all settings, including long-term care.
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| Is your home participating in Change Day? |
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As a representative of the long-term care sector, we have been encouraging you to get involved in Change Day, the movement designed to empower people to make positive changes in the health care system by way of making pledges and taking actions to improve compassionate quality care.
Have you made a pledge? Is your home or organization doing something to participate in Change Day? We want to hear from you! Let us know what you’re planning by contacting Kim Lucchetta at klucchetta@oltca.com.
Still unsure what to do? Pledges can be something you commit to doing, changing, or improving for yourself, your team, or residents. It can be anything. Here are some ideas:
- Come in on your day off to sit and have lunch with residents
- Organize a specific type of event that will educate other staff about QI
- Commit to share more personal stories with residents so they get to know you better
- If you work at a corporate office, pledge to make your way into a home in the next two months to visit with front line staff and residents
- Spend the day in a wheelchair to better understand a resident’s experience
- Implement an opportunity for members of the team to debrief and support one another after a loss of life
- Organize walking breaks with colleagues
For more information on Change Day, visit the Change Day Ontario website.
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| Grassroots ideas wanted |
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Do you have an idea that will improve the brain health or healthcare outcomes for older adults? Are you a point-of-care worker within the health care space? If yes, then the Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI) wants to hear from you!
CABHI has launched round two of their Spark Program, an initiative that supports point-of-care workers by providing up to $50,000 (CAD) in project funding to support the development of their grassroots ideas and early-stage innovations.
Through this funding opportunity, CABHI is inviting submissions from people working within the health care space, which includes allied health professionals, personal support workers, certified nursing assistants, home health care aides, direct clinical care and/or service staff, or managers of clinical care delivery. In total, there is up to $1.25 million (CAD) in funding available to support up to 25 new innovation projects.
Visit the program page to learn more, or email info@cabhi.com.
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| News for the sector |
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In the news: Long-term care
The Public Inquiry into the Safety and Security of Residents in the Long-Term Care Homes System issued a news release last week to announce that public meetings would be held in Woodstock and London on October 18 and 19. According to the release, the purpose of the meetings is “to give members of the communities most directly affected by these tragedies an opportunity to learn more about the Inquiry. Individual residents will be given a chance to speak about the impact these tragedies have had on their lives, and to ask questions about the Inquiry.” The Commissioner will also explain the Inquiry's mandate and the process the Inquiry will follow. Read the release here.
Ontario will launch a new registry that will provide patients and families with easy-to-access information about their personal support workers (PSWs). The new mandatory PSW registry will include information such as education and training credentials, and adherence to a code of conduct. The Michener Institute at the University Health Network will lead the development and implementation of the new registry. Read the news release here. The Ontario Personal Support Workers Association, which had hoped to be the governing body, responded: Personal support workers 'furious' at province's plans for registry: New data for caregivers will be 'colossal waste of money,' association president says
As the City of Ottawa sets out a plan to improve its long-term care operations, new allegations of verbal abuse by a staff member at one of their homes have been brought to light, captured on camera by the family of a resident. Media coverage related to this can be read here:
The inspection report and compliance orders of municipal home Grey Gables has received media attention. The municipality says that much of the concerns relate to staffing pressures at the Markdale facility, where the labour pool is smaller compared to the other long-term care facilities, resulting in staff contingency plans being used more frequently.
Niagara Falls Review published a story last week to highlight that Bella Senior Care is still under a cease of admissions. This can be read here.
Although Lady Isabelle also remains under a cease of admissions, Minister of Health Dr. Eric Hoskins has publicly said that he is working to keep those beds in the community of Trout Creek.
The Ontario NDP continue to call on the government to take action on long-term care. In the last few weeks, party representatives continue to ask questions about long-term care in Queen’s Park Question Period. Last week, long-term care critic Teresa Armstrong took to the media to demand that the inquiry into long-term care be expanded, while party leader Andrea Horwath told stories about unhappy residents and families. The NDP continue to issue news releases, which stress that long-term care is in crisis.
The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care is exploring options to tackle hospital overcrowding and alleviate some of the capacity on ALC beds. As a start, Minister Hoskins has suggested that the old Humber River Hospital in Toronto may soon reopen as an intermediate care site. Click here to read more.
The story of a London woman who waited six months in hospital as an alternate level of care patient highlights the system pressures and too-few long-term care beds. Read more here.
Grey County is working towards the creation of a Behavioural Support Transitional Unit at the county-run long-term care home in Owen Sound. Read more here.
The Centre for Aging & Brain Health Innovation announced $8.3 million in funding for projects related to seniors’ care innovations last week. The Ontario Long Term Care Association’s project for individualized medication management in long-term care (with partners with Think Research and GeneYouIn) is one of these projects. The news release can be read here, while all innovations can be viewed here.
Queen's Park news
As mentioned elsewhere in the newsletter, last week the Ontario government announced new omnibus legislation that will include changes to the Long Term Care Homes Act, and also announced that it will establish a new registry for personal support workers.
National News
Jagmeet Singh has won the national leadership of the NDP. Read more here.
Of interest
Last week, union leaders representing hospital staff gathered to raise awareness of the violence that staff are experiencing. The union is calling for safeguards from violence to be entrenched in the newest collective agreement. According to the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions, the Ontario Hospital Association “refuses to budge” on the issue.
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| Research, resources and professional development |
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OARC in Action
The September edition of OARC in Action can be viewed here.
Hospital News
Click here to read the October issue of Hospital News.
Canadian Frailty Network
The Canadian Frailty Network's latest Catalyst Grant Competition is focused on funding innovative research proposals that address improving medication prescribing/deprescribing and overall medication management in older Canadians living with frailty. Projects that submit an Intent to Apply will be eligible to later submit for consideration a full application package. Submissions are required by Friday, October 6, to apply@cfn-nce.ca. Click here for further details on eligibility, funding, and how to apply.
The Canadian Frailty Network is also looking for feedback on what seniors' care organizations need from trainees who will work in this field. To provide your feedback by October 16, click here.
Spotlight on the arts: Impact on business, health and well-being
What happens when you bring a market researcher and a neuropsychologist together? Find out on Wednesday, October 25 from 6:00-8:00 pm in Oakville from Kelly Hill of Hill Strategies Research and Dr. Kate Dupuis, Schlegel Innovation Leader, Centre for Elder Research, Sheridan College.
They will explore the economics of the arts and implications of shifting demographics for your business, as well as the evidence for the health and well-being benefits of participating in the creative and performing arts. Click here for more information and to register before October 19.
Art of Leadership: OLTCA discount
The Art of Leadership brings together respected names in thought leadership in a place of inspirational interaction. Surrounded by a network of like-minded individuals, this conference is built around the stories, ideas, discoveries and collaborative moments that drive achievement.
This year the conference is headed to Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. The speaker lineup features Vice President Joe Biden (47th Vice President of the United States), Amanda Lang (Anchor, Bloomberg TV Canada and Bestselling Author), and Welby Altidor (Executive Creative Director Formerly with Cirque du Soleil and Author), among others.
Association members and stakeholders are able to register with a preferred rate of $50 off per pass, by using the promo code OLTCA20. Click on one of the links below to register:
Events
Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging: Seniors’ Fitness Instructor Course
Thurs Oct 5 to Thurs Nov 2, Barry's Bay; Sat Nov 4 to Sun Nov 12, Waterloo; Sat Nov 18 to Sun Nov 26, London
Public Services Health & Safety Association – Security Program as Part of a Workplace Violence Prevention: A Security Toolkit for Community and Healthcare Organizations webinar
Thurs Oct 12, Webinar
Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing - Wound Management for Nurse Practitioners and Advanced Practice Nurses: A Best Practice Boot Camp for Persons with Lower Extremity Ulcers
Fri Oct 13 to Sat Oct 14, Toronto
Hospice Palliative Care Education: Pain Assessment and Management for Nurses
Wed Oct 18 and Wed Nov 15, Hamilton – registration deadline is Oct 4
Bruyère CLRI International Conference on Humanizing Health Care: Enhancing Lives, Transforming Care
Thurs Oct 19 to Fri Oct 20, Ottawa
Ontario Community Support Association Conference – From Roadmap to Reality: Navigating Change Together
Thurs Oct 19 to Fri Oct 20, Markham
Canadian Association of Gerontology CAG2017: Evidence for Action in an Aging World
Thus Oct 19 to Sat Oct 21, Winnipeg
Ontario Long Term Care Clinicians 2017 Conference
Fri Oct 20 to Sun Oct 22, Toronto
Health Quality Ontario’s Health Quality Transformation 2017
Tues Oct 24, Toronto
Business of Aging Global Network Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) Quarterly Meeting
Wed Oct 25, Oakville
Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario 2017 Conference: Improving Primary Care Together
Wed Oct 25 to Thurs Oct 26, 2017
HealthCareCAN & CHA Learning Webinar Series: Emergency Preparedness
Thurs Oct 26, Webinar
The Art of Leadership – use code OLTCA20 for $50 off registration
Thurs Oct 26, Vancouver
Canadian Conference on Dementia
Thurs Nov 2 to Sat Nov 4, Toronto
HealthAchieve
Mon Nov 6 to Tues Nov 7, Toronto
Hospice Palliative Care Education: Pain Assessment and Management for Nurses
Tues Nov 14 and Tues Dec 12, Brantford – registration deadline is Oct 31
Advanced Comprehensive Education for Support Workers: Building on Fundamentals of Hospice Palliative Care Course
Thurs Nov 16, 23 & 30, Brantford - registration deadline is Nov 2
The Art of Leadership – use code OLTCA20 for $50 off registration
Tues Nov 28, Toronto
The Art of Leadership – use code OLTCA20 for $50 off registration
Wed Nov 29, Montreal
HealthCareCAN & CHA Learning Webinar Series: Sustainability and Waste Management in Healthcare
Thurs Nov 30, Webinar
Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario - Healthy Work Environment Forum
Wed Dec 6 to Fri Dec 8, London
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