the plan started with a goal of admitting 1,500 ontarians into long-term care over a few weeks. beds are available in homes where previous outbreaks have ceased. it is important to know these are spaces in single or double rooms, not in ward-style rooms with three and four beds.
to bring hospital patients into these available long-term care spaces, there are a few important considerations.
action and focus
first, to make a meaningful difference, we must all act with urgency and stay focused on immediate solutions achieved through cooperation and flexibility. patients should look to homes that are available now as a temporary measure — this will not impact their ability to get into their first choice later on. in the meantime, to support this choice, the government will waive their co-payments.
long-term care homes have requested that hospital patients be vaccinated and not moving for treatment related to covid-19. the government has said if patients are not yet fully vaccinated, they will be required to isolate upon arrival after a negative test result.
it is also important to provide additional supports to care for the new residents from hospital who typically have more complex needs. this means ensuring there is sufficient clinical expertise and ready access to specialized services, so that staff have the support they need to provide the necessary care.