Retirement Home Sector Environment Scan
The retirement home sector is a growth industry. Currently there are over 700 retirement homes across Ontario.
Many are also attached or adjacent to nursing homes.
The average age for a retirement home resident is 83.
There are a variety of unions involved in attempting to organize retirement workers. It is crucial SEIU Local 1.on becomes the union of choice and the number one union in this sector.
SEIU Local 1.on currently represents approximately 3000 retirement home workers.
The retirement home industry is to a large extent redefining itself. No longer is it just catering to seniors wanting to rent a room with some services thrown in.
The retirement home of the future will have restaurants and pubs. There will be gyms, spas, bowling alleys and movie theatres.
Only 12 per cent of Canadian seniors (445,000) currently live in retirement homes. In 30 years time there will be approximately 10 million Canadians over the age of 65. Many will want to live in a fully self contained complex that offers the amenities they valued during their working lives.
The demographics clearly point to the fact that all services related to seniors will see strong growth for a long time to come.
If you can conceptualize what Florida looks like today, at least in respect to senior expect the same trend to occur in Canada over the next 30 years.
The major retirement home operators of today such as Chartwell, Sunrise and Amica may not be around in the next decade, let alone next week or next year. The industry is consolidating – Mom and pop operations will not survive in a new competitive environment.
New concepts such as Adult Day Care will compete with assisted living facilities, continuing care retirement communities (entire campuses of living choices from private homes and independent living to assisted living and to nursing facilities). Residents move in once and move along in age or as health conditions dictate without ever having to leave the area.
Special care facilities for Alzheimer’s patients will be established. People who have physical mobility but whose mental conditions need to be monitored will not necessarily be placed in high care nursing homes.
Make no mistake the industry is in business to make money. Real estate speculation is a greater motivator for these operators than is the provision of care services to seniors.
Today we have very limited and weak legislation governing the retirement home sector. The latest Ontario government initiatives on Retirement Home Regulation, although a step forward, are still very limited in protecting seniors who live in these homes.
SEIU Local 1.on must push for better standards.
GOVERNMENT LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES
The Ontario government is in the process of determining how to regulate the retirement home sector.
The Liberal government’s policy direction clearly favours self regulation. This is really no better than asking Colonel Sanders to baby sit your chickens.
SEIU Local 1.on will advocate for a legislated Retirement Home Act that will establish the principles that will be applied to the interpretation of the Act.
The Act must define the types and classes of homes and accommodations; indicate the types of personal and medical services, dietary services, recreational and social services; a resident’s Bill of Rights including Residents Councils; staff compliments, staff training and screening of staff; compliance and enforcement mechanisms; inspection with investigative powers; and qualifications and conditions of home ownership.
There must be a clear demarcation of services a retirement home can provide and those a nursing home can provide.
Nursing services provided to residents must be funded by the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care.
Retirement homes must abide by all statutory laws including the health professions Act. Only health professionals can administer drugs or perform a controlled act.
SEIU LOCAL 1.ON STATEMENT ON ELDER ABUSE
Elder abuse (Physical, mental and financial) can not be tolerated in any circumstance.
An industry that is self regulated can not stop abuse.
Abuse stops when standards are strictly enforced and adequate staffing levels are maintained to ensure residents receive proper care.