The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted long-standing challenges in Canada's long-term care (LTC) homes. We have seen gaps in infection prevention and control, staffing, and infrastructure, with tragic effects on residents, their families and those working in LTC homes.
To keep seniors safe and improve their quality of life, the 2020 Fall Economic Statement committed up to $1 billion through the Safe Long-Term Care Fund (SLTCF) to help provinces and territories undertake activities to improve infection prevention and control in long-term care. These activities include hiring additional staff, implementing wage top-ups, as well as purchasing or renovating infrastructure including ventilation, and doing readiness assessments.
Today, on behalf of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health, the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, along with Darren Fisher, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Seniors, announced the signing of a SLTCF agreement with Nova Scotia. They were joined by the Honourable Barbara Adams, Nova Scotia's Minister of Seniors and Long-term Care and the Honourable Michelle Thompson, Nova Scotia's Minister of Health and Wellness. Through this agreement, Nova Scotia is receiving more than $27 million, with work already underway, to take better care of and protect seniors in LTC homes.
With this investment, Nova Scotia has built on existing initiatives to improve infection prevention and control in long-term care homes by funding the following initiatives:
- Hiring of LTC assistants to help with activities related to infection prevention and control such as screening visitors and supporting visitation requirements;
- Developing an infection prevention and control program with a team of five Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA) infection prevention and control clinicians along with support from the NSHA occupational health and safety team;
- Promoting the Infection Control designate role and providing funding for LTC homes to hire clinical nurses throughout the province to work in this role with NSHA's infection prevention and control (IPAC) team;
- Increasing environmental supports to enhance infection prevention and control measures in LTC homes; and
- Distributing PPE supplies to long-term care facilities as part of the COVID-19 response.
As we work to keep seniors safe and improve their quality of life, the federal government will continue to work collaboratively with provinces and territories, while respecting their jurisdiction over health care, including long-term care.
