Task Force on Abuse and Neglect in Long-Term Care Homes Wants to Hear from the Public

Long-Term Care Task Force on Resident Care and Safety Consultations Underway

TORONTO, March 8, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Long-Term Care Task Force on Resident Care and Safety is currently consulting so that it can develop a plan to address incidents of abuse and neglect in long-term care homes - as well as the potential underreporting of these incidents.

The task force is seeking responses to a key set of questions that can be accessed online and by phone. The questionnaire can also be printed, completed and submitted by mail or fax. Submissions will be accepted until March 19, 2012.

All long-term care homes in the province were provided with the consultation questionnaire and promotional materials to help them engage their residents, staff, volunteers and family members to provide their input.

"Abuse and neglect are serious issues," said Dr. Gail Donner, Chair of the Task Force on Resident Care and Safety, and Dean and Professor Emerita, Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto. "We want to hear from people so the task force can develop an action plan that truly helps prevent incidents of abuse or neglect in long-term care homes and advances a culture of openness and transparency to the benefit of all involved in the provision and receipt of long-term care services," Donner added.

Members of the public are invited to make a confidential submission to the Task Force by:

Visiting: longtermcaretaskforce.ca and clicking on 'Your Voice'

Mailing the completed questionnaire to: Long -Term Care Task Force, 1938 Bloor St West, P.O. Box 30026, Toronto, ON M6P 4J2

Calling: 1-866-399-6073 to record your responses

Faxing the questionnaire to (416) 766-8007 between the hours of 8:00am - 8:00pm.

"We strongly encourage people interested in contributing their views on these issues to participate - it is important for us to consider wide ranging input if we are to develop an action plan that is truly responsive to the needs of residents and care providers," said Dr. Donner.