Call ServiceOntario, Infoline at:
1–866–532–3161 (Toll–free)
In Toronto, (416) 314–5518
TTY 1–800–387–5559.
In Toronto, TTY (416)327–4282
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday, 8:30am – 5:00pm
Frequently Asked Questions
June 16, 2020
Following consultation with operators and family, resident and caregiver associations, we are pleased to issue an updated directive and guidance that will facilitate the gradual re-introduction of family visits to residents in long-term care homes that are not currently in outbreak.
Long-term care homes may begin resuming non-essential visits as of June 18, 2020, provided they meet the requirements in the policy. Long-term care homes that are not in an outbreak must work to meet the requirements for homes outlined in the policy as soon as possible.
The resumption of visits can begin on June 18. The visits during this phase are outdoor only.
For a long-term care home to resume visits, they must first meet the following conditions:
Homes must:
The visitor must:
Visitors are responsible for bringing their own face covering for outside visits. If a visitor forgets their mask or face covering the home is asked to provide one.
Prospective visitors should consider their personal health and susceptibility to the virus in determining whether visiting a long-term care is appropriate.
If a visitor does not comply with these requirements, it will be the basis for the discontinuation of their visits.
Visitors are responsible for bringing their own non-medical mask (e.g. cloth masks, bandanas or other face coverings) for outside visits.
The home is responsible for supplying surgical/procedural masks to outdoor visitors who do not have a face covering. Homes should avoid accessing the provincial pandemic stockpile for this purpose.
The intent of the policy is to allow as many individual residents as possible to receive a visit. To accomplish this, visitor restrictions apply to each visit – e.g. only one visitor at a time per resident will be permitted. The person visiting can change from time-to-time.
Just visitors. Visitors will be required to wear face coverings for outdoor visits.
Visitors and residents are encouraged to practice physical distancing for the duration of their visit.
We are not requesting that homes make any changes to their regular visiting hours. However, we do ask that homes make every effort to accommodate scheduling of visitors so that each resident may receive visitors within the first few weeks.
Visits can be time-limited to allow the home to accommodate more residents/visitors — however, visits must be no less than 30 minutes
Where possible staff should transfer residents out of the home. Homes are also encouraged to establish or maintain virtual visits during this time.
Where it is not possible or advisable for in-person visits to take place, homes should continue to provide virtual visiting options.
Homes must make every effort to accommodate outdoor visits as permitted under this policy. Any cancellations should be due to extraordinary circumstances.
Long-term care homes must not permit residents to leave the home for short-stay absences to visit family and friends.
Residents who wish to go outside of the home must remain on the home's property and maintain safe physical distancing.
Homes must create a dedicated area outside the building where visitors can meet residents. These spaces could include repurposed, protected outdoor space, or a parking lot. Staff must support the transfer of residents out of and back into the home. Any incremental expenditures that are required for prevention and containment are considered an eligible expense for the allocated COVID-19 prevention and containment funding.
Yes. This will be dependent on the size of the space and the ability to maintain physical distancing between the parties.
To support long-term care home residents, the Ministry of Long-Term Care is implementing a gradual, phased resumption of visits guided by principles of safety, emotional well-being and flexibility. Though outdoor visits are permitted as of June 18, 2020, homes don't have to begin those immediately should they require more time to safely implement these changes.
As the pandemic situation evolves in Ontario, this direction regarding visits at long-term care homes will be adjusted as necessary, keeping the safety and emotional wellbeing of residents and staff at the forefront.
No, this directive applies to all homes.
Homes are encouraged to establish scheduling practices that consider the staffing and space capacity available to the home to maintain the safety of residents, staff and visitors. This includes staff capacity to support the transfer of residents out of an into the home. Any incremental expenditures that are required for prevention and containment are considered an eligible expense for the allocated COVID-19 prevention and containment funding.
The Ministry of Long-Term Care does not require home staff to supervise visits.
Visitors are encouraged to bring their own non-medical masks for outdoor visiting — e.g., cloth masks, bandanas or other face coverings.
The following baseline requirements for the home must be met prior to the home being able to accept any visitors:
If individuals believe that a home has not complied with the requirements in the Long-Term Care Homes Act and/or Regulation, they may call the ministry's Family Support and Action Line at 1 866 434-0144 between 8:30 am and 7:00 pm, seven days a week to make a formal complaint.
A home's process for communicating with residents, families and staff must include an information package. These materials must include an approach to dealing with non-adherence to home policies and procedures, including the discontinuation of visits.
Any non-adherence to visitor rules will be the basis for discontinuation of visits.
Correct. The home is also not responsible for providing the testing.
No, there has not been a change to the definition of "ssential visitors". Essential visitors include a person performing essential support services (e.g., food delivery, phlebotomy, maintenance, family or volunteers providing care services and other health care services required to maintain good health) or a person visiting a very ill or palliative resident.
A non-essential visitor is defined as any family member or close friend who is not an essential visitor.
Essential visitors must use a surgical/procedure mask while in the home, including while visiting a resident that does not have COVID-19 in their room.
Essential visitors who are in contact with a resident who is suspected or confirmed with COVID-19, must wear appropriate PPE in accordance with Directive #5 and Directive #1.
Essential visitors are the only type of visitors allowed when a resident is self-isolating or symptomatic, or a home is in outbreak.
Outdoor visitors may not enter the home. This includes the home's washroom facilities.
In the event that a home has begun resuming non-essential visits and enters into an outbreak, the home must end all non-essential visits.
Homes must comply with all Chief Medical Officer of Health directives pertaining to outbreaks and follow directions from the local public health unit.
Following consultation with operators and their associations, we are pleased to issue an updated directive and guidance that will enable patients currently in hospitals to be admitted to long-term care where appropriate.
New admissions from either the community or a hospital can resume. Residents who have been admitted to hospital can return to their long-term care homes. In both cases, the home cannot be in a COVID-19 outbreak.
Receiving homes must not be in a COVID-19 outbreak. Under exceptional circumstances, admissions may take place during an outbreak if:
In addition:
When returning a resident back to their home, hospitals and long-term care homes should ensure the following criteria is met:
A resident has been cleared of COVID-19 if they have had lab-confirmed COVID-19 more than 14 days prior to admission to the receiving home.
A negative result does not rule out the potential for incubating illness and all new residents who have not been previously cleared of COVID-19 must remain in isolation under Droplet and Contact Precautions for a 14-day period following arrival. The home must be able to maintain and have a plan in place for isolation of new admissions.
A new admission of a resident who is positive for COVID-19 may be made provided that it is approved by the local public health unit per the Quick Reference Public Health Guidance on Testing and Clearance and Public Health Management of Cases and Contacts of COVID-19 in Ontario.
In the case when there is any difference of view between a hospital and long-term care home about the suitability of the return of the resident to the long-term care home, please contact the local placement coordinator. If they cannot resolve the issue, it will be escalated to the ministry.
All homes are asked to consider the ability to properly isolate residents in the event of an outbreak in their determination of the rate of admission to the home. Additionally, each resident is placed in a room with no more than one (1) other resident. That is, there shall be no further cohorting of residents in 3 or 4 bed ward rooms.
In facilitating these changes, the government is taking a gradual approach so as to ensure the safety of residents, visitors and staff within all long-term care homes in Ontario. As we monitor the implementation of these changes, we will re-evaluate them regularly with the hope of further opening the guidance further, subject to any directives from the Chief Medical Officer of Health.
For residents leaving the home for an out-patient visit, the home must provide a mask. The resident must wear a mask while out, if tolerated, and be screened upon their return, but does not need to be self-isolated.
Call ServiceOntario, Infoline at:
1–866–532–3161 (Toll–free)
In Toronto, (416) 314–5518
TTY 1–800–387–5559.
In Toronto, TTY (416)327–4282
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday, 8:30am – 5:00pm