Is public reporting compulsory for all homes?

Not yet. Many homes are not yet able to report their results. While most homes have now implemented the RAI-MDS (Resident Assessment Instrument – Minimum Data Set), which comprises most of the indictors reported on this site, OHQC requires that reporting homes be using the RAI-MDS system for at least one year. The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care is working with homes across the province to effectively implement RAI-MDS. We anticipate that by March 2012, RAI-MDS will be fully implemented and results for all homes will be publicly available.

When will results for all homes be available?

It is anticipated that all homes will be able to participate in public reporting by March 2012, once the RAI-MDS  (Resident Assessment Instrument – Minimum Data Set) is fully implemented.

Where do the data come from?

Most of the data were collected using the RAI-MDS (Resident Assessment Instrument – Minimum Data Set). This standardized tool is now used in most Canadian provinces and in many countries around the world. The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care is currently working with homes to implement RAI-MDS across the province. Under this system, every resident will undergo a detailed health assessment at least once every three months. This assessment will be conducted by a staff member at the home. Staff will be specially trained to collect this information.

We also use provincial databases that cover access, emergency department visits and drug use.

What is the Beers List?

The list of drugs elderly people should not take is called the Beers Criteria, or Beers List, after Dr. Mark Beers, who created the original version. A University of Toronto study found that almost half the Beers List drugs available in the United States are not covered under Ontario’s Drug Benefit Plan, so they are less likely to be prescribed here. To see a list of drugs on the Beers List, click here.

What is the difference between the information on OHQC’s website and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s Long-Term Care Homes Report website?

Although they are complementary, the two sites have different purposes. The information on OHQC’s site reports on key quality indicators both provincially and within long-term care homes, and about how satisfied residents and families are with that care. The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s Reports on Long-Term Care (LTC) Homes website contains information about whether a home is in compliance with legislation, regulations, standards and policies. Through its Compliance Management Program, the ministry monitors all long-term care homes in Ontario on an ongoing basis, and inspects their performance at least once a year. For more information, see “About the Reports” (www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/program/ltc/30_pr_reports.html) and “New Inspection Process” (www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/program/ltc/31_pr_inspections.html)

Are retirement homes included on the site?

Retirement homes are not regulated or funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and are therefore not part of the province’s public reporting efforts.

Long-term care homes are government-funded and regulated by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. They provide care and services for people who no longer are able to live independently or who require onsite nursing care, 24-hour supervision or personal support. They offer a higher level of care than retirement residences or supportive housing and are usually run in one of three ways:

• Licensed long-term care homes owned by for-profit corporations;
• Approved long-term care homes run by municipalities; and
• Licensed long-term care homes owned by charities and not-for-profit corporations, such as faith, community or cultural groups.

Where can I register a concern or complaint about a long-term care home?

If you have a concern about a long-term care home, follow the complaint process posted in each home. If you are not satisfied with the response, you can call the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care's Action Line at 1-866-434-0144 to register your concern(s) about a home.

How can I contribute to improving the quality of care in my home?
 

In short, be engaged and be constructive. Find out all you can about the quality of care within the home and talk to the home administrator and staff about the home’s plan to make improvements. Note your own observations — for example, are the staff interacting with residents in a respectful manner? Do they appear to know residents’ names? Are the residents engaged in interesting activities, socializing with family, friends or volunteers? Are the spaces well lit and free of clutter? (For more information see Questions for Residents & Families to Ask.)