What It Means for Your Loved One
Here’s what that means in everyday terms.
This refers to the average amount of direct care time per resident per day across Ontario, delivered by registered nurses and personal support workers. Four hours of care refers to a provincial average, not a fixed amount for each person or home. Residents receive care based on their individual assessed needs, not a set number of hours.
Direct care includes help with bathing, dressing, eating, and moving safely; medication management; health monitoring; nursing assessments; and ongoing support throughout the day and night. Ontario’s LTC residents also receive an average of 36 minutes of allied health services per day from physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers, and other specialists.
Resident A
Needs significant physical support throughout the day: help getting out of bed, meals, medications, and ongoing monitoring for diabetes and blood pressure.
Resident B
More physically independent, but lives with dementia. Needs regular check-ins, reassurance, and close supervision to stay safe and engaged.
Both are receiving care based on their needs. The four-hour average helps ensure staffing is in place to meet these different needs.
Long-term care homes in Ontario are funded and regulated under the same provincial rules, regardless of ownership. Funding provided specifically for nursing and personal care must be used for resident care. It cannot be redirected for other purposes. If it is not fully used for care, it is returned to the government. This accountability standard applies to all LTC homes across Ontario.
If the reported average changes, this can be caused by changes in resident needs, outbreaks, or a home reopening after redevelopment. A single number is a snapshot, not the full story of care. It is only one indicator among many used to understand quality.
50,000 people on the waitlist for long-term care
77,500+ Ontarians living in LTC homes
75% of LTC residents live with cognitive impairment
11 medications on average at admission to LTC
Please speak with the Director of Care or a member of the care team.