Thursday, February 25, 2021 It’s Time to Stop Ignoring Homecare Newsletters Ontario Healthcare Sectors Healthcare According to the November 2020 report entitled Aging Well from by Don Drummond and Stauffer-Dunning of Queens University, the vast majority of seniors in Ontario want to age in their own home. Despite this overwhelming preference, the report concludes the current reality is that far too many Ontario seniors are forced to move into congregate care facilities such as alternative level of care beds in hospitals or long term care homes because of a lack of access to appropriate homecare. The report finds that up to one in five seniors could be successfully diverted out of congregate care settings and be able to live at home longer if only the appropriate homecare supports were available. The problem, according to Home Care Ontario, is government underfunding. In its 2021 budget submissions to the Ontario government, Home Care Ontario concluded that wages paid to nurses, therapists, and PSWs in the hospital and long term care sectors earn significantly more than their peers in homecare. According to its submissions, the higher wages in other areas of the healthcare system have been slowly draining homecare providers of their workforce, which has contributed directly to the inability to attract and retain staffing in the homecare sector. It is time for the government to stop ignoring homecare. Immediate and continuing investments must be made to ensure homecare providers can retain and attract frontline staff. You might be interested in Why We Work Safely 5 Jun 2026 Standing Your Ground, and Staying Steady on the Job 4 Jun 2026 CLAC Partners with Alberta Government to Advance Skilled Trades Training and Accelerate Certification 4 Jun 2026 Strathcona Mechanical Workers Ratify New Agreement Providing Wage, Scheduling Improvements 3 Jun 2026