For the past decade, CUPE and HEU have repeatedly pleaded with our governments to make improvements to long-term care, including having national care standards, increased funding, better working conditions and construction of new public facilities. Unfortunately, from most levels of governments, we've met with more resistance than a willingness to reform the system's state of disrepair.
Many Canadians are longing for life to get back to normal. However, when it comes to long-term care, we must not go back to the way things were. Long-term care homes house people who require care 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Most residents are frail seniors living with chronic medical conditions and physical and cognitive impairments. Unlike hospital and doctor visits, long-term care is not a core publicly insured service under the Canada Health Act. Instead, this sector is governed by a patchwork system of provincial and territorial legislation and regulations. There is little consistency across Canada in the level or type of care provided or in how facilities are governed. Where you live will affect the type and amount of care you will receive and how much you'll pay for it.