Health Canada releases summary report of comments collected as part of engagement on the future Safe Long-Term Care Act

August 29, 2024 | Ottawa, Ontario | Health Canada

Every person in Canada deserves to age with dignity, safety and comfort, no matter where they live. While many Canadians want to age in place, they also expect and deserve to have high-quality long-term care options available. That is why the Government of Canada is developing safe long-term care legislation.

Today, Health Canada released the report “Engagement on the Safe Long-Term Care Act: What We Heard Report,” which summarizes feedback gathered by the Department during in-person and virtual public consultations on proposed legislation to strengthen access to quality, safe and equitable long-term care in Canada.

The consultation process gathered the wide-ranging and informative perspectives of more than 5,000 people across Canada, including health care organizations, academics, long-term care residents, staff and caregivers, provinces and territories, Indigenous partners and other federal government departments.

During the consultation sessions, the Government of Canada heard that most people would prefer to age at home while having access to necessary supports. When long-term care is required, people want and deserve it to be safe and of high quality. Participants raised priorities such as: considering long-term care as one component of the continuum of supportive care, which also includes home care and palliative care; inclusion and respect for diversity in long-term care; supporting the long-term care workforce; access to culturally and trauma-informed long-term care; and increasing transparency and accountability in long-term care. Health Canada will use this information to develop the Safe Long-Term Care Act.

The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring that every Canadian can age as they wish, in their own community. The federal government will continue to work with provinces and territories, Indigenous partners and all stakeholders to build a safe, equitable and high-quality long-term care system that benefits Canada’s seniors and caregivers.