Resident care must not become a deficit solution: OLTCA
OLTCA to present before standing committee on finance and economic affairs Feb. 2
Friday January 29, 2010 -- Camille Jensen
Long-term care homes already facing funding and resources pressures are asking the provincial government to ensure resident care does not become a deficit solution.

Ontario Long Term Care Association (OLTCA) CEO Christina Bisanz, along with representatives from two of its member homes, Leisureworld Caregiving Centre North Bay and Extendicare Kingston, will be addressing the standing committee on finance and economic affairs as part of its pre-budget consultations.

Bisanz says the OLTCA is concerned that long-term care homes will be hit with a combination of funding reductions and new costs, such as the implementation of the new Harmonized Sales Tax (HST), which will make retaining existing care and service levels “impossible.”

The group is recommending the province preserve last year's $43.5 million service funding increase, retain other funding levels and annual adjustments, and commit to fully funding any new initiatives, including HST, which is estimated to increase annual net operating costs for OLTCA members by about $12.2 million.

If the government does not commit to these recommendations, the OLTCA says it will reduce the ability of homes to continue offering the same level of care and service that Ontario’s long-term care residents deserve.

“We completely understand the financial restraints placed on our provincial government and appreciate its support for resident care,” says Bisanz in a news release.

“Our message is that it is now more critical than ever that support is sustained and resident care does not become a deficit solution.”

Bisanz will be delivering her message to the standing committee on finance and economic affairs Feb. 2.

Marilyn Benn, Extendicare Kingston’s administrator is presenting today at 1 p.m.

Ruth Gauthier, Leisureworld North Bay’s director of administration presented before the committee Jan. 28.

OLTCA members will also be delivering messages to their MPPs.

— More to come

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