Ontario Building New Long-Term Care Beds in Niagara and Increasing Staffing Leading to More Direct Care

Beamsville – The Ontario government is adding 387 new and 645 upgraded long-term care beds to modernize and expand six long-term care homes in Niagara and Hamilton. This is part of the government’s $6.4 billion commitment to build more than 30,000 net new beds by 2028 and 28,000 upgraded long-term care beds across the province.

“Our government has a plan to fix long-term care and a key part of that plan is building modern, safe, and comfortable homes for our seniors,” said Hon. Paul Calandra, Minister of Long-Term Care.

“When these six homes in Niagara and Hamilton are completed, 1,032 residents will have a new place to call home, near their family and friends.”

“The number of people in Niagara who will need long-term care is expected to rise over the next decade,” said Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West.

“Today’s announcement will help ensure we have safe, modern spaces ready for them.”

The bed allocations announced today will create six new buildings for existing long-term care homes, and will increase the overall number of much-needed beds in the Hamilton-Niagara region:

The homes will address the residents’ needs in a variety of ways, such as providing specialized health care, culturally specific services, or integrating into the broader health care system by being part of a campus of care.

There are now 1,649 new and 2,597 upgraded long-term care beds in development or under construction across 26 projects in the Hamilton-Niagara Region. Each new bed means more people can receive the care they need near their loved ones. Each redeveloped bed means that those already receiving care will be able to move into a brand-new home.

As well as the announcement today on the modernization and expansion of six long-term care homes in Niagara and Hamilton, the Ontario government is also announcing $31.2 million for long-term care homes in Niagara – including $6,104,976 for long-term care homes in Niagara West – to increase staffing levels, leading to more direct care for residents.

The new funding is part of the plan by the province to fix long-term care by providing up to $673 million this year to long-term care homes across the province, ensuring long-term care residents receive – on average – four hours of direct care per day by 2024-25.

“This funding will allow homes in our community to hire and retain more staff so they can provide more care to residents, every day,” said MPP Sam Oosterhoff.

“This is part of our government’s plan to hire thousands of new staff over the next four years to ensure those living in long-term care get the high-quality care they need and deserve.”

“We know that more qualified staff means more daily care for residents,” said Minister Calandra.

“Hiring more staff is part of our government’s plan to fix long-term care and to improve the quality of care residents receive and the quality of life they experience.”

The government has a plan to fix long-term care and to ensure Ontario’s seniors get the quality of care and quality of life they need and deserve both now and in the future. The plan is built on three pillars: staffing and care; accountability, enforcement, and transparency; and building modern, safe, comfortable homes for seniors.