In December 2024, Ontario’s provincial government proposed legislation to amend two other Acts relevant to the care of older adults in Ontario. Highlights of this legislation included (see original at on the Ontario Legislative Assembly Website here)
SCHEDULE 1
FIXING LONG-TERM CARE ACT, 2021
The Schedule amends the Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021. Here are some highlights:
1. Licensees of long-term care homes are required to have organized programs respecting dementia care and services and cultural, linguistic, religious and spiritual needs.
2. New offences are added, including offences respecting abuse or neglect of a resident. Licensees are guilty of an offence for contravening or failing to comply with any provisions of the Act or regulations.
3. The Director is authorized to request a placement co-ordinator to submit reports to the Director on any matter concerning long-term care home placement and admission.
4. Currently, section 78 of the Act requires every licensee of a long-term care home to ensure the home has a Medical Director who must be a physician. The section is re-enacted to require every licensee of a long-term care home to ensure the home has a Clinical Director who must be a physician or a registered nurse in the extended class.
SCHEDULE 2
RETIREMENT HOMES ACT, 2010
The Schedule amends the Retirement Homes Act, 2010 to add an additional right to the Residents’ Bill of Rights set out in subsection 51 (1) of the Act, namely the right to ongoing support from caregivers, and to enable specified senior officials in the ministry of the Minister to provide binding direction as well as recommendations to licensees respecting the prevention and management of specified types of infectious diseases.
Provincial Geriatrics Leadership Ontario, with input from its clinical community, prepared a submission to inform the development of this legislation at the committee stage. This document was submitted to the Standing Committee on Social Policy on January 6, 2025 (confirmation #157191).
To view a copy of the PGLO submission, click download below.