The Good Doctor on: A Commitment to Long-Term Care

Blog #28

Long-Term Care Commitment

On November 2nd the Ford government announced that it would make a substantial commitment to the long-term care residents of Ontario. That was welcome news for the many who have been trying to provide care on a shoestring budget.

In my younger days, back in the 1990’s I had a mobile practice that went to extended care homes and also worked with the CNIB. The lack of funding was evident even then and if it wasn’t for the dedication of staff and families, there would have been more problems at that time. Fast forward to 2020, regretfully, my own Optometric Association decided to take job action to petition the Ontario government to make changes in eye-care funding and in the way eye care is delivered, and all this during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our office at Burlington Eyecare did not support this action and still does not -- not because changes are not needed, but because of the pandemic timing and the fiscal crunch that covid has put on the government.

Earlier this year, when the military went into the long-term care homes to help, their findings were not surprising. As a response to this knowledge, the government of Ontario is going to make a much needed commitment to help. The Ford administration has had to make tough decisions on funding and I heartily approve of allotting resources to this sector even if it means that increases in funding for eye exams have to wait. At Burlington Eyecare, we try to provide support for the residents and their families in the Burlington area, doing on-site eye exams and providing timely optometric care when requested.

The reality is that long-term care is intensive and requires much support from the government, health care providers, and family. The work is demanding, unglamorous, and unending. Hats off to the care workers. Hopefully this government commitment provides much needed help.

Til next week,

The Good Doctor, Dr. Mark Germain, Burlington Eyecare