Summary
Today, the Ontario government made amendments to the Retirement Homes Act, 2010 regulation, enabling the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority (RHRA) to better support seniors living in retirement homes during the COVID-19 outbreak. The regulation change increases the emergency payment the RHRA can pay to eligible retirement home residents from $2,000 to $3,500. In the event of an emergency, such as an outbreak, this funding can be used to support residents to cover costs for transportation, alternative accommodation or temporary care. The regulation change also requires retirement homes to report infectious disease outbreaks to the RHRA during COVID-19 and beyond.
Key Messages
- Our government is further strengthening protections for seniors in the province’s retirement homes.
- We are taking decisive action to enhance the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority’s ability to safeguard residents and staff in retirement homes where there is an outbreak of COVID-19.
- The new emergency order will expand the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority Registrar’s authority to issue a management order to a retirement home struggling to manage a COVID-19 outbreak.
- We are also making an amendment to the Retirement Homes Act, 2010 regulation to increase the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority Emergency Fund cap from $2,000 to $3,500 per resident to better reflect possible costs at this time.
- Retirement homes are also required to report any outbreak of infectious disease to the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority, as well as the local medical officer of health.
- Ontario continues to diligently monitor and take decisive action to stop the spread of COVID-19 to protect the health and safety of Ontarians, especially seniors living in congregate settings.
- The order and regulatory amendments come into effect immediately.