Long-Term Care Homes Not Up To Par In Many Ontario Nursing Homes

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"They're saying . . . don't put your mother here because the quality of care is so bad."

Pat Armstrong, York University professor

In some of the homes seniors sit for hours in soiled diapers and others are restrained when it is not necessary. These horrible conditions are among some of the findings in an investigation carried out by The Canadian Press.

In some Toronto communities as many as 91 percent of homes set up for senior citizens have been cited for violating the basic standards set up to protect the elderly. Those standards expect for residents to be well-fed, clean and pain free. These homes are also being cited for how care of incontinent residents is being conducted and how restraints are being used.

Overall in Ontario just over 60 percent in nursing homes have been cited for violations.

There are 616 nursing homes throughout the province that have their inspection results posted online. Within these homes there were 400 general standards violations posted. This is disheartening. In 2004 George Smitherman then the health minister had promised a "revolution" in long-term care. That revolution has yet to appear.

“We are committed to putting patients first and are continuing to invest and deliver more quality bedside care to Ontarians,” said George Smitherman, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. “We will build on the progress that has been made by adding more staff to our long-term care homes. And by improving funding accountability, we will know every dollar will go to improving the quality of life and satisfaction for thousands of Ontarians.”

The Canadian Press report found many that work in the homes embarrassed by the level of care they are able to provide knowing that it is not up to par.

Provincial inspection reports dated from April 2007 to March 2008 were studied by the Canadian Press. The study revealed that some long-term care facilities have had repeated citations for failing to bathe their residents twice a week. There are some residents that do not even own a toothbrush.

One home in Brampton, Tullamore, was cited as to having 16 residents with restraints applied incorrectly. In Elliot Lake, St. Joseph's Manor allowed residents to remain in soiled clothes and foul-smelling diapers. In Techumseh, Banwell Gardens was cited as to making residents who were unable to feed themselves wait up to an hour at a dining room table before they were served breakfast. In Fergus at Caressant Care an inspector observed a resident dump hot oatmeal in his lab and then try to eat it with his hands without any staff intervention.

Those homes have said they have addressed the majority of violations. They have been dealing with a staff shortage that hinders their ability to maintain basic standards of care.

In Ontario long-term care homes have a list of 400 rules that they are expected to following dealing with food temperature to a clean environment for their residents. There are also many rules for documentation and paperwork. One-third of the violations that Ontario nursing homes have been cited for deal with administrative infractions.

Some of the homes say that the long list of rules and the constant documentation is what is behind the undesirable care of residents.

That said it still doesn't make sense that residents are having to sit for hours in soiled diapers or wait until food is good to be feed. Staffing has to be increased at these homes in order to provide basic care. Ontario has the second worst long-term staffing levels in Canada. At this time there are about 28,900 personal support workers and 10,650 licenced nurses to care for the 75,000 residents that are housed in Ontario. The average age of a resident in long-term care is 83-years-old. 85 percent of those in these residential care centers need constant help with basic tasks such as dressing and going to the washroom

Many personal support residents have to care for as many as a dozen residents. In an ideal world that work load would be cut in half. It is impossible for all of the daily tasks to be performed for each and every resident with homes so understaffed.