There is no quick or cheap way to fix our long-term care system

COVID-19 has shone a light on some of our society’s worst injustices.

Our long-term care system is a prime example. The news cycle has been dominated by stories of overworked and underpaid staff, working in overcrowded and aging facilities that are subject to minimal inspection.

“Do something” and “do it now” has been the cry coming from many quarters with Premier Doug Ford promising quick action to “fix the system.”

Ontarians should applaud the premier’s resolve, but we also need a reality check. Ontario has many excellent long-term care homes and they shouldn’t all be painted with the same brush. (Full disclosure, I serve on the volunteer board of a research institute on aging with direct ties to a private long-term care provider.)

That doesn’t mean we don’t need action. There are very bad actors and even the best homes are under tremendous pressure to deal with the growing tsunami of seniors with complex health care needs.

But does everyone fully understand the enormity of the premier’s promise to “fix the system?”

First, what “system” is he specifically speaking about? Seniors’ care in Ontario represents a continuum. Which aspect is he going to tackle — just the 620 plus licensed long-term care homes — or will he also look at retirement homes and other assisted living facilities?

And if Ontario is going to invest more dollars, where specifically are we going to spend them?

Do we increase the pay for front line staff to recognize the importance of their work and address the shortage of people entering the profession? Or do we fund more new positions to increase the overall level of support for each resident?

And what about more funding for home and community care to allow more seniors to age at home?

“Just do it all” may be the impatient response from most Ontarians — leading to another reality check.

Addressing all the needs of seniors’ care in Ontario will cost billions and billions with little end in sight.

Take one example — addressing the enormous waiting list for access to long-term care. The Ford government has promised to add 15,000 new beds to the system over five years, adding an additional $1 billion a year to the longterm care budget once they are all up and running.

According to Ontario’s Financial Accountability Officer, however, the number of Ontario seniors needing longterm care is projected to grow at a faster rate than this increase in beds.

Seniors’ care is also going to be just one priority among many for any postCOVID-19 government. Supporting those who lost their jobs, creating new economic opportunities and preparing for future pandemics are going to represent other competing priorities.

I don’t share these observations to dissuade action on long-term care. Partly, it’s to explain why progress in seniors’ care has been so difficult under governments of all political stripes.

More importantly, it’s to warn Ontarians that fixing our post-COVID-19 world will entail a lot more than simply demanding action from government and turning our attention elsewhere.

Collectively, all of us are going to have to make some very difficult choices. Are we prepared to pay more taxes? Ontarians should be concerned about the way we treat our seniors.

But let’s not delude ourselves into thinking there are easy ways to “fix” the system.