How to Support Our Frail Elderly: A Suggested Action Plan (November 2023)

(Toronto, Ontario. January 29, 2024.)

There is a profound demographic shift underway. The 80+ population in Ontario is projected to more than double by 2040.

People want to age at home – yet one in five older adults today have complex care needs which make remaining at home very challenging. Plus, the family and other loved ones who are taking care of older adults are struggling, with 63% of caregivers saying they reached their breaking point last year but had no choice but to keep going.

Couple this with the fact that we have almost 43,000 Ontarians on waitlists for long-term care – more than the populations of a mid-sized town such as Bradford, Orillia, Stratford, Orangeville, or Leamington – with those waitlists expected to grow to 48,000 individuals by 2029 based on population growth and complex care need trends.

The bottom line is that there will not be enough long-term care beds for those who need them, even with the significant investments and historical commitments already made by the Ontario Government, and the commitment by long-term care homes to deliver on the Government’s pledge to redevelop older homes and to create 30,000 new long-term care spaces.

Collectively, with leaders across our sectors, we have identified existing solutions that can be expanded to reduce the long-term care wait lists, help more older people with complex care needs age at home, and fast-track access to long-term care for those who really need it.

Click here to read our Suggested Action Plan.

ABOUT

How to Support Our Frail Elderly: A Suggested Action Plan was a collaborative effort by 8 provincial associations to provide insightful data for government and community care providers in Ontario.

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