Ontario is investing in upgrades to over 300 long-term care homes that are eligible to receive a construction funding subsidy. Long-term care homes allow adults to live and receive help while participating in daily activities. It gives them access to 24-hour nursing and personal care, with more support provided than retirement homes or supportive housing.

Over the next nine years, residents will benefit from a comfortable, aesthetically pleasing environment that is as home-like as possible, featuring updated interior design; additional space for specialized programs like rehab and physiotherapy; more spacious bedrooms with a maximum of two residents per room; greater wheelchair access in bedrooms, bathrooms, showers and doorways; more air-conditioned areas; accessible dining areas that give a home-like atmosphere; and more private work spaces for staff.

“Long-term care homes are not just facilities – they are peoples’ homes. It is vital that they remain up-to-date to provide residents with secure, safe and comfortable surroundings,” said Dipika Damerla, Associate Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, in a press release. “The redevelopment of long-term care homes will also help create jobs in the local area.”

As part of the 2016 Budget, Ontario is proposing a $10 million addition to the existing $44 million annual investment into Behavioural Supports Ontario to support seniors with cognitive impairments that display challenging and complex behaviours.

In total, Ontario has 630 long-term care homes that house about 78,000 residents. Since 2003, 10,000 new spaces have been created in these homes and over 13,500 older spaces have been renovated. The number of nurse practitioners in these facilities will also increase, from the current 18 to 93 over the next three years.