While Kathleen Wynne’s weekend concession and Doug Ford’s family squabbles dominate the media’s coverage of the Ontario election, a number of key issues are being lost in shuffle as June 7 ballot draws near.

According to recent CARP polls, older voters want to hear more before the election from the parties on how they would address key health issues: specifically long-term care and home care.

CARP Members Call on Parties to Fix Long-Term Care

The first poll, conducted by CARP and AdvantAge Ontario,  revealed that an overwhelming number — 99 per cent — of respondents say long-term care is an important in the upcoming election.

When asked: “Do you think there is enough staff to care for residents in long term care?” 92 per cent responded “No.”

And when asked to identify the top three issues in long-term care, the majority respondents said:

  • long wait lists
  • adequate staff levels
  • local availability of beds

“CARP is calling for an increase in funding for staffing and specialized training in long-term care facilities to reflect the changing composition of residents, and better protect our frailest population,” said Laura Tamblyn Watts, National Director of Policy, Research & Law of CARP, Canada’s leading advocacy association for older Canadians.

CARP Members Lack Confidence in Home Care

The Home Care Poll (conducted by CARP and the Ontario Community Support Association) found that two-thirds (68%) of respondents are just not confident that they, or their loved ones, will receive adequate, publicly funded, home care and community support services to keep living at home in the future.

Identifying the problems that beset home care in Ontario, (58%) said more personal support care services; 39% say more homemaking services (including cooking and cleaning); and 34% say dementia care.

“We know that increased hours to home and community care and providing more of the types of services people need is one of the very key solutions to so many of the problems associated with health care and aging. The time to invest in these needed solutions is now,” said Tamblyn Watts.