A new study of long-term care homes in Ontario shows that older facilities – most owned by corporations that have been paying out millions in profits to shareholders – were a significant factor in determining the likelihood of a COVID-19 outbreak.
These homes were most likely to have outdated design features, including shared bedrooms for up to four people and larger common areas where the virus could spread more easily among groups of people. While former Ontario governments passed newer building design requirements that removed shared and common rooms, there was no direction given to owners of the long-term care homes to implement them. Read more.
The COVID-19 pandemic has put a spotlight on the tragedy in long-term care homes that requires national attention and action. The Council of Canadians is calling on the federal government to work with provinces and territories on a national strategy that will make the homes safer for those who live and work there. To help build public pressure on governments, we are encouraging people to write letters to the editor of their local newspapers using the Council’s new easy-to-use tool.
Together, we can bring about the changes that are needed in long-term care homes across Canada.
Note: Based on your postal code, your letter will be automatically submitted to your 5 closest newspapers. You can use any of the talking points at the bottom of this page for your letter and be sure to add in your own, or send the form letter.
