Credit: The Standards Council of Canada (SCC), Health Standards Organization (HSO), and Canadian Standards Association (CSA Group)

The Standards Council of Canada (SCC), Health Standards Organization (HSO), and Canadian Standards Association (CSA Group) are collaborating to develop two new complementary National Standards for Long-Term Care that will be shaped by the needs of residents, families, and Canada’s LTC workforce.

HSO’s National Long-Term Care Services Standard will focus on resident- and family-centred care practices that value the importance of respect, dignity, trust, and quality of life; safe and reliable care based on evidence-informed practices; and a healthy and competent workforce to ensure sustainable, team-based, compassionate care. HSO’s existing National Long-Term Care Services Standard currently forms the basis upon which 67% of Canada’s current long-term care homes are accredited.

“The devastating consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada’s long-term care homes have only highlighted the long-standing issues that must be comprehensively addressed in order to provide our most vulnerable Canadians the resident and family-centred, safe, reliable, and high-quality care they deserve” said Dr. Samir Sinha, Chair the HSO National Long-Term Care Services Standards Technical Committee. “Having a consistent approach to enhancing the quality of care across all Canadian long-term care homes through a national standard will improve the quality of life for those of us who may one day need this level of care.”

How to Get Involved

Participate in a survey to contribute to the development of Canada’s National Long-Term Care (LTC) Services Standard

As HSO begins designing and building the new standard, they want to hear from Canadians and what matters most to them when it comes to long-term care. All responses will help shape what an optimal future state of LTC ought to look like in Canada.

Participate in the survey now!