The Ontario government will double the number of its inspectors who assess nursing homes, it announced Friday, under the force of population aging.
The average lifespan in Ontario is 80 years, the highest in the country. By 2046, the province expects that the number of those who live past age 75 will increase tenfold, hitting 468,000 people. That is why the government is increasing the number of inspectors who meet with residents, make checks on the quality of care, and closely monitor what happens to residents after they leave the homes.
“We have a $60 billion health-care system that provides quality care for patients. It is a public, universally funded, guaranteed system. It exists because we have trust in the health-care system to deliver those services,” said Minister of Health and Long-Term Care Helena Jaczek. “But it also must deliver quality services too.”
About one-quarter of the hospitals and nursing homes across the province are licensed by the Health Quality Council of Ontario. Another 10 percent have surrendered or switched to private certification.
From 2021, residents of all institutions will be checked on every three years. Inspectors will also spot if the care or facilities are in compliance with 16 regulations, including daily “activities of daily living,” bedside manner and information protocol.
