Long-term care homes are essential to the health, wellbeing, and economic strength of Ontario.
Long-term care homes are essential to the health, wellbeing, and economic strength of Ontario.
Throughout our province, north and south, urban and rural, Ontario families rely on long-term care homes to provide specialized care and affordable housing for their loved ones.
In addition to the invaluable care and services long-term care homes offer to their residents, they also generate significant social and economic benefits to families and other caregivers, their communities and the broader health and social services system.
In 2024, long-term care homes contributed and/or supported $12.43 billion to GDP and $8.86 billion in labour income.
In 2024, long-term care homes contributed 173,751 direct, indirect and induced jobs to Ontario.
With nearly 48,000 seniors on waitlists, the Ontario government is investing in the construction of 30,000 new spaces and modernization of 28,000 older ones. This isn’t only about care – it’s about investing in people, jobs, families, and the future of our communities.
Lighten the load for seniors and families
Reduce caregiver burden and distress by more than 820,000 hours per week across the province.
Enable caregivers to return to work
If caregivers can then return to the job market or increase their hours of work, this could create almost $24 million in income potential per week across the province.
Accelerate Ontario’s economy
Fulfilling the government’s commitment to build and renew 58,000 long-term care spaces would contribute an additional $37 billion to GDP in Ontario.
Generate productive and valuable labour income
Long-term care homes would contribute $21.9 billion in labour income through construction activity, plus $3.17 billion in labour income related to the operation of 30,000 new spaces.
Create jobs
Building 30,000 new long-term care spaces would create 59,000 new direct, indirect and induced jobs in Ontario.
Reduce pressure on hospitals
For every 100 alternative level of care (ALC)* patients who leave hospital for long-term care, the health system saves up to $100,000 a day and seniors experience better quality of life.
*An alternative level of care (ALC) patient is someone who occupies a hospital bed because they need supports beyond what is available in their community or home but does not require the intensity of services provided in a hospital setting.
Across Ontario, 215 long-term care homes provide essential care for seniors living in rural communities.
These homes play a key role in supporting local economies:
In 2024, they contributed $3.3 billion to GDP and $2.37 billion in labour income across rural Ontario.
In 2024, long-term care homes contributed 46,848 direct, indirect and induced jobs to Ontario’s rural communities.
Many rural long-term care homes need to be upgraded. The government has committed to renewing 9,000 older spaces and creating 3,500 new spaces in rural Ontario, to ensure seniors in these communities can access the care they need, in the communities they helped to build.
Building in rural communities helps seniors stay in the communities they love, surrounded by friends, family, and familiar places.
Strengthen rural economies
Building and modernizing rural long-term care homes will add $7.26 billion to GDP and $4.78 billion in labour income through construction activity.
Create new jobs
Building 3,500 new long-term care spaces across rural Ontario will create nearly 7,000 new direct, indirect and induced jobs.
Highlights the critical role of long-term care for Ontario’s future, including policy recommendations for a sustainable path forward.