OTTAWA — Seniors advocates in Ontario are calling on the provincial government to fund services in naturally occurring retirement communities, arguing it would be a cost-effective way to support older adults aging at home. Jennifer Brooks, chair of the NORC working group for the Council on Aging of Ottawa, said Ontario has more than 2,140 such buildings where 30 to 60 per cent of residents are over 65. She said these communities house more older adults than retirement homes and long-term care combined, yet receive no government support. Brooks said NORCs offer the opportunity to deliver health, social and preventative services efficiently to a large concentration of older adults. "Relatively modest community-based investments can support healthier aging and reduce reliance on more intensive and costly health and social services," she said. Brooks noted that no investment is required to construct new institutions, as the buildings and residents are already there. "The buildings and residents are there, simply waiting for an injection of government money to support their aging in place," she said.
The call comes amid a broader debate about how to care for Ontario's aging population. Donna Duncan, CEO of the Ontario Long Term Care Association, agreed that people should be able to stay home with the right supports for as long as possible. However, she noted that one in five seniors over 80 has complex care needs that can only be safely met with round-the-clock nursing in long-term care. "Long-term care is that option: publicly funded health care in a place residents can call home," Duncan said.
Sheila Bryan, president of the Ontario Liberal Seniors' Commission, said seniors want to live out their lives at home or in small, communal non-profit homes with supports. "This concept isn't new. There are many models around the world. We're way behind in relation to many other countries," Bryan said. She argued the issue has great urgency because thousands more seniors are coming soon. "It's imperative that we get there fast. Let's start by reprofiling the millions of Ontario tax dollars being spent on building long-term care institutions," Bryan said.
Duncan acknowledged that Ontario's older population is outpacing long-term care capacity. She said until a space opens, people wait at home or in hospital, and family caregivers are stretched to the limit. "Home care, community supports and long-term care work best together. An aging Ontario should have the full continuum of seniors services," Duncan said.