Thursday, May 08, 2025
Ontario. Ministry of Long-Term Care
Ontario Taking Action to Support Seniors and their Caregivers
Province re-introducing legislation to improve quality of life and protect seniors across the province
Today, the Ontario government re-introduced legislation to protect and support seniors and the people who care for them. The Support for Seniors and Caregivers Act, 2025, if passed, would better connect seniors and their caregivers to complex care, and is backed by $114 million in investments to increase access to community and social programs that help seniors stay fit, active and healthy in their communities.
“As Ontario’s population continues to grow, it is critical to build for the future so we can support some of the most vulnerable members of our community,” said Paul Calandra, acting Minister of Long-Term Care. “That’s why our government is investing in new programs to improve quality and access to care while strengthening protections for seniors and their families.”
The proposed legislation would amend the Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021 and the Retirement Homes Act, 2010 and make a suite of changes to:
- Protect residents with dementia by requiring all long-term care homes in Ontario to have an organized program for dementia care and services.
- Support seniors and their families by strengthening residents’ rights to ongoing support from family or friends who provide care.
- Broaden requirements for long-term care homes to recognize and respect the cultural, linguistic, religious and spiritual needs of residents. This includes new regulations that require long-term care homes to increase information available in French.
- Introduce new offences related to the abuse or neglect of a long-term care home resident and enhance the ability to investigate and prosecute offences.
Other initiatives complementing the legislation include:
- Investing almost $80 million over three years to improve and expand dementia care and supports.
- Expanding community programming and resources for seniors living in their own homes.
- Developing a provincial approach for using artificial intelligence for the early detection of osteoporosis, responsible for 80% of all fractures in older adults.
These changes are one more way the province is taking action to protect Ontario and meet the needs of Ontario’s aging population and their caregivers by improving and expanding supports for seniors living in long-term care, congregate settings and in the community.
Quick Facts:
- Seniors — people age 65 and older — make up the fastest growing age group in the province.
- Over 60% of LTC residents have a dementia diagnosis.
- As part of its plan to fix long-term care and address waitlists, the government is building 58,000 new and upgraded long-term care beds across the province.
- Ontario is offering incentives of up to $35,400 to PSW students and eligible PSWs to launch careers in long-term care homes and in the home and community care sector.
- The Ontario government invested up to $4.9 billion between 2021 and 2025 to create thousands of new positions for personal support workers and nurses in long-term care.
Quotes:
"Our government is continuing to take action to ensure that Ontarians have access to the health care and services they need, at every stage of life. This investment will improve access to high-quality dementia care across the province, allowing more seniors and their loved ones to connect to the compassionate services and supports they need, in their community."
- Sylvia Jones,Deputy Premier and Minister of Health
"Every year as the number of older adults increases, we must do all we can to ensure seniors are healthy and socially connected to their communities. This legislation, once passed, will build on our government’s historic investments that keep seniors fit, active, engaged, close to their homes and most importantly end social isolation."
- Raymond Cho, Minister for Seniors and Accessibility
"The Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario is pleased to see the provincial government’s recognition of nurse practitioners (NPs) as clinicians and leaders in delivering high-quality, compassionate care in long-term care homes, ensuring Ontario’s seniors receive the support they deserve to maintain their health and well-being. This is a necessary step in leveraging the full extent of NPs’ training and expertise, and we look forward to continuing our work with the Government of Ontario and the Ministry of Long-Term Care to improve resident outcomes across the province."
- Dr. Michelle Acorn, NP, CEO of the Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario (NPAO)
"Long-term care homes play a vital role in enabling seniors with high care needs to age in their communities when staying at home is no longer possible. The government’s historic levels of investment in long-term care staffing, program and capital have enabled critical innovation and improvements in care. As Ontario’s long-term care homes continue their transformation to provide innovative, resident-focused models of care, we thank the government for their continued commitment to supporting and strengthening long-term care across the province."
- Donna Duncan, Chief Executive Officer, Ontario Long Term Care Association
"The Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario welcomes a cross-government approach to enriching the quality of life and care for older persons whether they reside in long-term care homes, retirement homes, or their own homes. We applaud the investments to support seniors, their families and caregivers; enhance social connections; and improve dementia care. These, alongside a continuous focus on much needed staff increases, will begin addressing a population that has been under-resourced for decades. We are delighted with the inclusion of nurse practitioners as clinical directors in long-term care homes — a role they successfully performed during the pandemic. Nurse practitioners bring advanced clinical education, the legal authority to diagnose and treat illnesses, and a deep understanding of policy and regulatory frameworks. This change will make a meaningful difference for residents of long-term care, their families and staff."
- Dr. Doris Grinspun, RN, PhD, O.ONT., CEO Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO)
Additional Resources:
Media Contacts:
Stuart Osborne
Office of the Minister of Long-Term Care
Stuart.Osborne@ontario.ca
Ministry of Long-Term Care Media Line
Communications Branch
MLTC.Media@ontario.ca
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