Ontario is finally taking steps to make life more livable for residents of long-term care homes. Rod Phillips, the new Ontario Minister of Long-Term Care, announced Tuesday the province is easing most of the restrictions that have kept many family members and friends from visiting their loved ones in nursing homes for most of the pandemic. The changes come into effect on July 7.
“As we cautiously and safely reopen the province, no one deserves to enjoy the reopening more than long-term care residents, their families and the staff,” said Phillips, during a news conference on Tuesday.
“As we head into summer, long-term care residents will be able to spend more time with their friends and families thanks to the efforts of people across Ontario rolling up their sleeves and getting vaccinated.”
Phillips said part of the decision to ease restrictions is based on the fact that the vast majority of LTC residents have received COVID-19 vaccines.
"As of today, across Ontario, 99 per cent of long-term care residents are fully immunized. And more than 92 per cent of long-term care staff have their first doses, while 84 per cent have both doses."
"This is good news, but we need to remain vigilant. Long-term care homes will continue to screen everyone who enters," said Phillips.
He said asymptomatic surveillance testing would continue and this would help ensure strong infection prevention and control (IPAC) measures are in place.
A news release from the ministry said after consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health the long-term care home guidance documents have been updated with the following information:
- Residents can have outdoor visits of up to 10 people.
- All residents may have up to two general visitors and two caregivers for an indoor visit.
- Personal care services can resume.
- Cohorting of residents can be relaxed during outdoor activities.
- As well, there is no longer a limit on the number of people who can be designated as a caregiver by a resident or their substitute decision-maker.
Phillips said that when Ontario moves to Step Three of the Roadmap to Reopen, additional changes will come into place, which will include:
- Removing the limits on the number of visitors to the homes.
- Permitting buffet and family-style dining.
- Providing that all residents will be able to go on absences regardless of immunization status.
- Resumption of off-site excursions for residents.
- Resumption of activities such as singing and dancing.
Phillips was asked if that meant that Step Three would be happening on July 7 to coincide with the other changes for LTC homes. Phillips would not commit to that, saying that Step Three would happen only when several conditions had been met.
"I believe that is a conversation we will be having with medical officials as to Step Three. It will be a function, as you know, of levels of vaccinations, but also a variety of other measures."
He said when Ontario is able to move into Step Three and to do so safely, so will long-term care homes.
Later in the news conference, Phillips was asked about previous LTC minister Dr. Merrilee Fullerton, who would not admit full responsibility for the many problems in long-term care, having told Queen's Park reporters "we didn't start the fire."
Phillips, one week into his new job, was asked what level of responsibility his government was taking for the failings in long-term care in Ontario.
He replied that based on the Long-Term Care Commission report, released in April, it was a case of many being responsible.
"Successive governments including this one failed residents, they failed families and they failed our staff. And on behalf of both past governments and the current government, I apologize for that. I think that's a necessary step so that we can take the action we need to do now," said Phillips.
Len Gillis is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter at Sudbury.com. He covers health care in Northern Ontario.
