Health Canada has launched a new consultation tool asking Canadians to support the development of new standards for long-term care in Canada.
The new process is directed at senior citizens and people with disabilities. The government said it is seeking input and opinions from Canadians on what they believe are the key concerns for delivery of long-term care services.
Health Canada said these opinions can be gathered through an online survey or they can be gathered by email to [email protected] or by sending a letter through Canada Post as the following address:
Home and Long-Term Care Unit, Health Canada,
4th floor, Jeanne Mance Building,
200 Eglantine Driveway, Tunney's Pasture,
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0K9.
The consultation period will be for sixty days, beginning from July 21 and running through to September 21, said the news release.
The announcement from Health Canada said the development of a new law for long-term care is part of a federal commitment to support senior citizens and persons with disabilities. Health Canada said this follows the release of two independent LTC standards from CSA Group and the Health Standards Organization (HSO), "which provide guidance for delivering services that are safe, reliable and—most importantly—centred on residents' needs."
Health Canada said creating a new law falls in line with the creation of improved standards for long-term care. It was during the COVID-19 pandemic that Canadians in every province witnessed the failure of long-term care homes to provide safe and adequate care for thousands of senior citizens.
"In the wake of the newly released LTC standards, for which the Government of Canada contributed close to $850,000 to develop a robust consultation strategy, this important legislation will aim to help foster advancements of the quality and safety in LTC services across the country," said the Health Canada news release.
The plan also said a majority of Canadians, as they grow older, want to be closer to home and family and they expect and deserve long-term care they need to be high quality and safe.
"Budget 2023 outlined the Government's plan to provide close to $200 billion over 10 years in funding to provinces and territories to improve health care services for Canadians. Helping Canadians age with dignity at home with access to home care or in a safe long-term care (LTC) facility is one of the shared priorities of this funding," said Health Canada.
The development of the Safe LTC Act complements the Government's ongoing work with provinces and territories to help support improvements in home and community care, including palliative care, and in LTC. This includes creating an expert panel to provide recommendations for supporting home and community care, as well as ensuring quality, safe, and respectful care for seniors and persons with disabilities in LTC homes across Canada, said the release.
