Nickel Belt MPP France Gélinas is asking the province's Minister of Seniors, Sophia Aggelonitis, to reopen the Retirement Home Acts after a recent Toronto Star report which recently uncovered poor conditions in a small Toronto retirement home.
The report, which was published Oct. 1, said an undercover reporter who lived in the home for a week found seniors who were left in urine and feces-filled diapers for hours, no toilet paper in the washrooms, so residents wiped themselves with their hands or a communal towel, no stimulation, bad food, poorly trained and underpaid staff, and just one staff member on duty overnight.
Gélinas said it's “ironic” that conditions like these could exist even after the Retirement Homes Act was passed.
“In June, the McGuinty government passed the deeply flawed Retirement Homes Act despite the advice of dozens of groups that told the government the Act as it stood would not protect frail seniors,” Gélinas said, in a press release.
“Advice from these groups translated into close to 100 NDP amendments that would add protection, but the McGuinty Liberals voted down the amendments and rammed through the reckless legislation “
She said she wants the government to bring the Retirement Homes Act back to the drawing board and put in real safeguards and oversight that will protect seniors.
Aggelonitis told the Toronto Star she was “saddened and disturbed” by the story about the conditions at the small retirement home featured in the media report.
She vowed the Ontario Retirement Home Act will fix problems at retirement homes. A not-yet-created private regulatory authority will enforce standards.
“They are going to license the retirement homes, they going to inspect them. They will investigate and enforce homes,” Aggelonitis reportedly told the Toronto Star.
“I will tell you that if they have to, they will not only give financial penalties, but they will revoke licenses if necessary.”
