|
Profile Definitions Local Health Integration Network (LHIN)
LHINs are not-for-profit corporations that are responsible for planning, integrating and funding local health services in 14 different geographic areas of the province. LHINs are based on a principle that community-based care is best planned, coordinated and funded in an integrated manner within the local community because local people are best able to determine their health service needs and priorities. Community Care Access Centres (CCACs) Community Care Access Centres (CCACs) are the local organizations established by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care that provide access to government-funded home and community services, including admission into long-term care (LTC) homes. In the CCACs, there are Case Managers/Placement Coordinators who authorize admissions into LTC homes (for both permanent and short-stay admissions) and arrange home care services. There is an application process that must be completed by all applicants for placement into a LTC home. For more information about CCACs, see the Community Care Access Centres (CCAC) section. The Administrator has overall responsibility for the day-to-day operations of a home. There are various types of operators of long-term care (LTC) homes: charitable organizations, municipalities, corporations, partnerships and sole proprietors. The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care funds LTC homes to provide care and services to their residents. Nursing homes may be either for-profit or non- profit. Charitable and municipal homes are non- profit. Some hospitals in northern communities may also operate LTC beds under the Elderly Capital Assistance program (see Type of Operator for further details). There are various types of operators of long-term care (LTC) homes: charitable organizations, municipalities and corporations, partnerships and sole proprietors. The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care funds homes to provide care and services to their residents. Nursing homes may be either for-profit or non-profit. Charitable and municipal homes are non- profit. Some hospitals in northern communities may also operate LTC beds under the Elderly Capital Assistance program. These beds were established in small, remote communities with capital assistance from the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines. The units are operated and funded by local hospitals. Originally, they were built as additions to existing hospitals or as freestanding facilities operated by local hospitals. Additional information about these homes is available from the ministry's regional office. Some long-term care home operators may use a management firm to manage the day-to-day operations of the home. The name of a management firm will only appear in the Home Profile section on this website where the home operator has made such an arrangement. The management firm is different than other companies that may provide services in the home such as maintenance and food services.
Long-term care (LTC) homes are built to design standards set by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. These standards have changed over time. The most recent set of design standards was issued in 1998. Design standards specify minimum room sizes, maximum numbers of beds per room, washroom facilities, corridor widths and many other criteria. These standards are intended to ensure that the physical layout of a home is optimized for the care requirements of the residents while still providing a comfortable, home-like setting. Short-stay beds are a response to the community’s need for 'respite' and 'supportive care' programs. An individual is admitted into a long-term care (LTC) home for a specific short time period. The respite program provides relief to the individual's caregiver. The supportive care program allows an individual to recover strength, endurance or functioning. LTC home operators have the opportunity to apply to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to operate short-stay beds within their existing licensed or approved beds, and the ministry approves the beds based on need and suitability of rooms offered. Persons in the respite program usually stay for up to 60 days and those in the supportive care program usually stay for up to 90 days. A person can stay a maximum of 90 days in a short-stay program within a year. Eligibility for admission and placement in short-stay beds are determined by the CCAC. A Residents' Council is an independent, self-determining group made up of residents in a home. All residents are entitled to be members. A friend or family member who is a substitute decision maker for a resident may also be a member in order to speak for that resident. The group, perhaps with an elected Executive, meets regularly to receive and discuss residents' concerns, to plan activities, and to have a voice in the decisions and routines that affect residents' daily lives. When a Residents' Council does not exist in a home, the Administrator of the home must inform all residents annually of their right to form such a council. If any three (3) residents wish to have one, the Administrator must assist with the establishment of the group and support it. An autonomous (self-led and self-determining) group made up of families and friends of the residents of a home that meets on a regular basis with an emphasis on mutual support and advocacy. This group provides a voice in decisions that affect their loved ones and strives to develop a better understanding between families and the management and staff of a home. Long-term care (LTC) homes apply for accreditation to the Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation (CCHSA). Accreditation is a voluntary process that LTC homes use to evaluate their services and improve their quality. Accreditation is a two-part process consisting of a self-assessment and a peer-assessment. Homes that meet the CCHSA national accreditation standards are granted a 3-year CCHSA Accreditation status, which may or may not be dependent on certain conditions being met. The CCHSA summarizes the confidential findings Homes Designated Under French Language Services Act Some long-term care homes are designated under the French Language Services Act. This means that French-speaking residents are guaranteed services and care by members of the staff who speak French. The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has a mandate to ensure that all long-term care (LTC) homes meet Ontarios legislation, regulations, standards and policies that apply to LTC homes. The ministry inspects each LTC home through its compliance management program. The ministry may impose sanctions against a home if, for example, the home is found to have: (i)
recurring and/or continuing non-compliance;
(ii)
issues that present risk to residents that are severe in nature; or
(iii)
demonstrated lack of due diligence on behalf of the home operator to correct identified deficiencies.
When a long-term care (LTC) home operator fails to comply with ministry legislation, regulations, standards or policies, the ministry may impose the following sanctions on the operator:
This is the date of the last annual inspection review completed by ministry inspectors. This does not include follow-up or complaint investigations. If the specified reporting period does not include an annual review, then data about any unmet standards in the last annual review will be in this report, provided the last annual review was completed no more than 3 months prior to the reporting period. Total no. of Unmets Standards and Criteria This is the total number of inspection findings issued by ministry inspectors during the course of an inspection. This number includes follow-up visits and complaint investigations. The reported numbers of unmet standards/criteria are issued for a long-term care (LTC) home operator under the 18 sections of the Long-Term Care Homes Program Manual. Each number for a LTC home operator is compared to a provincial comparison number. The provincial comparison number is the average number of unmet standards/criteria issued per LTC home (for all LTC homes) within the specified reporting period. Total no. of Citations under Legislation This is the total number of Citations under Legislation issued by ministry inspectors during the course of an inspection. Total no. of Verified Complaints This is the total number of complaints reported to the ministry that were found to be true, based on investigation by ministry inspectors. Verified complaints may result in an unmet standard/criteria or citation issued against the long-term care (LTC) home operator. |