Administrator
A person who has the overall responsibility for the day-to-day operations of a long-term care (LTC) home, and is accountable to the LTC home operator.

Accreditation
A process that organizations use to evaluate their services and to improve the quality of their services. See also the Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation

Accommodation
Accommodation in a long-term care (LTC) home can refer to basic accommodation (standard room or any other type of room designated by the home operator as basic accommodation) or preferred accommodation (semi-private or private room). Costs for each type of room are regulated by a maximum government accommodation rate. See also Accommodation Costs and Preferred Accommodation

Accommodation Costs
The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care mandates that a minimum of 40 per cent of the beds in a long-term care home must be available at the basic accommodation rate. A resident paying the basic accommodation rate may be eligible for a reduction in accommodation costs, depending upon specific eligibility criteria. See also Preferred Accommodation

Annual Inspection
A yearly examination or review of a long-term care home by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care inspectors. See also Inspection and Ministry Inspectors

Approved Short Stay Beds
Short-stay beds are a response to the community's need for respite and supportive care programs. An individual is admitted into a long-term care (LTC) home for a specific short time period. The respite program provides relief to the individual's caregiver. The supportive care program allows an individual to recover strength, endurance or functioning. LTC home operators have the opportunity to apply to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) to operate short-stay beds within their existing licensed or approved beds, and the MOHLTC approves the beds based on need and suitability of rooms offered. Persons in the respite program usually stay for up to 60 days and those in the supportive care program usually stay for up to 90 days. A person can stay a maximum of 90 days in a short stay program within a year. Eligibility for admission and placement in short-stay beds are determined by the Community Care Access Centre (CCAC). See also Community Care Access Centre

Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation (CCHSA)
A national council that sets standards by which long-term care (LTC) homes are measured on a voluntary basis. LTC home operators may voluntarily apply for accreditation through the CCHSA.

Citation
A citation is issued when a long-term care home operator is in violation of the legislation or regulations that govern that home. See also Findings, Inspection and Ministry Inspectors

Community Care Access Centre (CCAC)
CCACs are agencies funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care that assist people in need of home and community care services, including admission into long-term care (LTC) homes. There are 42 CCACs in Ontario. There is an application process that must be completed by all applicants for placement into a LTC home. CCAC Case Managers/Placement Coordinators authorize all placements in a LTC home for both permanent and short-stay admissions and arrange home care services. See also Approved Short Stay Beds

Complaint
The expression of dissatisfaction relating to the operation of a long-term care (LTC) home. A complaint may include one concern or a number of different concerns. Complaints are followed-up by Ministry inspectors who investigate each concern reported in the complaint. Each concern in a complaint may or may not be verified. Verified concerns may result in an unmet standard/criterion or citation issued against the LTC home operator. See also Concern and Verified Concerns

Compliance Management Program
An inspection program conducted by Ministry inspectors in all LTC homes in Ontario to monitor compliance with legislation, regulations, standards and policies. See also Citations, Findings, Inspection, Long-Term Care Facility Program Manual, Long-Term Care Home, Ministry Inspectors, Operator and Sanction.

Concern
A concern is the specific part(s) of a complaint that requires investigation. A complaint relating to a long-term care home may have one or more concerns. Each concern falls into one of 10 categories or Concern Types. The public may forward a complaint to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care by letter, fax, Internet e-mail, or by telephone to the Ministry's Regional Office or the Ministry's Long-Term Care Action Line at 1-866-434-0144. See also Complaint, Concern Types and Verified Concerns

Concern Types
The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care receives complaints from the concerned public about the care of residents and the services provided for them in long-term care homes. These concerns have been divided into 10 categories by the following categories or types: Activation, Abuse, Dietary, Environment, Facility Organization & Administration, Financial, Medical Care, Residents' Care, Residents' Rights and Others. See also Complaint and Concern

Costs
See Accommodation, Accommodation Costs and Preferred Accommodation

DHC
A District Health Council (DHC) is the local voice in health planning. People who use and deliver health and health related services come together through the DHCs to provide advice to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

Elderly Capital Assistance Program
Elderly Capital Assistance Program beds were established in Northern Ontario communities with capital assistance from the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines. These beds are operated and funded by local hospitals and are built as additions to existing hospitals or as free-standing homes operated by local hospitals. See also Types of Operators

Exception
Exceptions in public reporting are those long-term care homes that have no information reported within the specified time periods for Inspection Findings and Verified Concerns. Exceptions include new homes open less than six months.

Family Council
An autonomous (self-led and self-determining) group of families and friends of residents that meets on a regular basis with an emphasis on mutual support and advocacy. This group provides a voice in decisions that affect their loved ones and strives to develop a better understanding between families and management/staff of a long-term care home. Sometimes this group is known by other terms such as family advisory committee. See also Residents' Council

Finding
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care inspectors, during the course of any inspection or visit, will issue an unmet standard/criteria or citation known as a "finding" if the long-term care (LTC) home operator does not meet the minimum expectations as defined in the Long-Term Care Facility Program Manual or the requirements under legislation or regulation. Citations are findings issued under the applicable regulation or legislation. Unmet standards/criteria are identified and issued under one of 18 specific sections in the Program Manual, and are also listed in "Inspection Findings" within public reporting. Findings reported in public reporting were issued to the long-term care (LTC) home operator within a specified timeframe. PLEASE NOTE : Information provided in LTC public reporting represents the performance of the LTC home operator within the specified reporting time period and does not necessarily reflect the home operators' current status, or any corrections made by the home operator. LTC home operators with unmet standards/criteria must develop and implement a Plan of Corrective Action to meet Ministry standards. If a finding is issued and not resolved within a specified time according to the Plan, then the finding will be re-issued or issued as a citation at a follow-up visit or inspection by Ministry inspectors. See also Citation, Exception, Inspection, Long-Term Care Facility Program Manual, Ministry Inspectors and Unmet Standards/Criteria

Home Structure
The physical layout of the rooms within a long-term care (LTC) home. LTC homes are built to design standards set by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. These standards have changed over time. The most recent set of design standards was issued in 1998. Design standards specify minimum room sizes, maximum numbers of beds per room, washroom facilities, corridor widths and many other criteria. These standards are intended to ensure that the physical layout of a home is the best way to care for the residents while still providing a comfortable, home-like setting. While older homes may not meet more recent design standards, they must still provide the same care as new homes. The building layout is only a part of the overall residents' experience; other factors such as location, setting, culture and atmosphere also influence a resident's experience in an LTC home. See also Accommodation

Inspection
An official examination or review by inspectors of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to determine compliance with long-term care (LTC) program standards and policies, and applicable legislation and regulations. Ministry inspectors inspect each LTC home at least once a year. There are different types of inspections: pre-occupancy and post-occupancy for new homes, annual inspections for all homes, and other follow-up inspections such as complaint or special inspections as needed. See also Exception, Findings and Long-Term Care Facility Program Manual and Ministry Inspectors

Inspection Findings
See also Citation, Finding, Inspection and Unmet Standards/Criteria

Licensed / Approved beds
The total number of beds within a long-term care home that have either been licensed or approved by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. Nursing homes have licensed beds. Charitable and Municipal homes have approved beds.

Long-Term Care Facility Program Manual
The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care policy manual that sets the minimum expectations relating to care and services for residents. Each long-term care home operator must comply with these standards and policies. The 18 Sections in the Manual are as follows :

• Dental Services
• Diagnostic Services
• Dietary Services
• Environmental Services
• Facility Organization and Administration
• Foot Care Services
• Medical Services
• Nursing Services
• Pharmacy Services
• Spiritual & Religious Programs
• Recreation and Leisure Services
• Resident Care and Services
• Resident Safeguards
• Social Work Services
• Staff Education
• Therapy Services
• Volunteer Services and Other Approved Programs

These sections contain a total of 37 standards and 426 supporting criteria. See also Findings, Inspection, Standards and Unmet Standards/Criteria

Long-Term Care Home
A long-term care (LTC) home provides care and services for people who no longer are able to live independently or who require onsite nursing care, 24-hour supervision or personal support. Nursing homes under the Nursing Homes Act, approved charitable homes for the aged under the Charitable Institutions Act and homes under the Homes for the Aged and Rest Homes Act are all LTC homes.

LTC
Stands for Long-Term Care.

Management Firm
Some long-term care (LTC) home operators retain a management firm to manage the day-to-day operations in their home. The name of the management firm is listed in the Home Profile section of public reporting only if the LTC home operator has chosen a management firm to manage their home. This firm does not include service firms or contractors who only manage specific services in a home such as maintenance or food services.

Ministry Inspectors
A government official appointed as an inspector to inspect long-term care (LTC) homes to ensure compliance with the legislation, regulations, standards and policies relating to these homes. Ministry inspectors have inspection powers under three Acts that govern the three types of homes: the Nursing Homes Act, Charitable Institutions Act and the Homes for the Aged and Rest Homes Act. Ministry inspectors may issue citations and unmet standards/criteria (inspection findings) against a LTC home operator. Ministry inspectors include registered nurses, registered dietitians and environmental health professionals (who have a degree in public health). See also Citations, Findings, Inspection and Long-Term Care Facility Program Manual

MOHLTC
stands for the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.

Operator
This is the person who must comply with the legislation, regulations, standards and policies relating to the operation of a long-term care home. The operator is :

• The person [corporation, partnership or sole proprietor] who is the holder of a license under the Nursing Homes Act (the licensee),
• The municipality maintaining and operating a home, municipalities maintaining and operating a joint home and the board of management of a home under the Homes for the Aged and Rest Homes Act, or
• The approved corporation that operates an approved charitable home for the aged under the Charitable Institutions Act.

Charitable and municipal homes are non- profit. A nursing home may be either for-profit or non-profit. See also Long-Term Care Home

Preferred Accommodation
This is accommodation in either a semi-private or private room. The long-term care (LTC) operator may charge additional accommodation costs of up to $8.00 per day for semi-private and $18.00 per day for private rooms. The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care mandates that no more than 60 per cent of the beds in a LTC home may be preferred accommodation beds. See also Accommodation, Home Structure, Private Room and Semi-Private Room

Private Room
In long-term care (LTC) homes built after 1998, a private bedroom is a room with one bed and a private washroom. In LTC homes built before 1998, a private room is a room with one bed that may have a private or shared washroom. See also Home Structure, Preferred Accommodation and Semi-Private Room

Provincial Comparisons
Provincial averages are reported so that comparisons may be made with other long-term care (LTC) homes in the province. The provincial average reported in Inspection Findings (for both Citations and Unmet Standards/Criteria) is the total number of findings divided by the total number of LTC homes in the province during the specified reporting period. The provincial average reported in Verified Concerns is adjusted to 100 beds because of differences in number of beds between homes. See also Finding, Unmet Standards/Criteria, and Verified Concerns

Residents' Council
An independent, self-determining group made up of residents in a long-term care (LTC) home. All residents are entitled to be members. The Residents' Council may have an elected Executive. It meets regularly to receive and discuss residents' concerns, to plan activities, and to have a voice in their home's decisions and routines that affect their daily lives. A friend or family member who is the substitute decision maker for a resident may represent that resident in the Council. If a Residents' Council does not exist in a LTC home, the Administrator must inform all residents once a year of their right to form a Council. The LTC home is required to support a Residents' Council if at least three residents wish to form one. See also Family Council

Sanctions
A penalty or other mechanism of enforcement used by the Ministry as permitted under the legislation or regulations to provide incentives for home operators to comply with Ministry legislation, regulations, standards and policies.

Sanctions vary according to the category to which a long-term care (LTC) home belongs. In Ontario, long-term care homes fall under THREE categories, governed under different pieces of legislation :

1. "Nursing Homes" are homes governed under the Nursing Homes Act (NHA).
2. "Charitable Institutions" are homes governed under the Charitable Institutions Act (CIA).
3. "Homes for the Aged" are homes governed under the Homes for the Aged and Rest Homes Act (HARHA).

In addition, all the above categories of homes are also subject to the Health Facilities Special Orders Act (HFSOA).

When a long-term care (LTC) home operator fails to comply with the Ministry's legislation, regulations, standards or policies, the Ministry may impose one or more of the sanctions listed below, as applicable, on the operator :

• Cease Admissions Applies to all three categories of LTC homes, namely Nursing Homes, Charitable Institutions and Homes for the Aged.
• Revoke or refuse to renew the LTC home's license: Applies only to Nursing Homes.
• Reduce or withhold funding Applies to all three categories of LTC homes, i.e. Nursing Homes, Charitable Institutions and Homes for the Aged.
• Occupy, Operate or Take Over Applies to all three categories of LTC homes, i.e. Nursing Homes, Charitable Institutions and Homes for the Aged.
• Suspend or revoke approval to operate Applies only to Charitable Institutions.
• Cease carrying on Activity Applies only to Nursing Homes.
• Suspension of License Applies only to Nursing Homes.

Semi-Private Room
In long-term care (LTC) homes built after 1998, a semi-private bedroom is a one-bed room with a shared washroom or a room with two beds that has a shared washroom. In LTC homes built before 1998, a semi-private room is a room with two beds. See also Home Structure, Preferred Accommodation and Private Room

Single Room
See Home Structure, Semi-Private Room and Private Room

Shared Room
See Home Structure, Semi-Private Room and Standard Room

Short-Stay Beds
See Approved Short-Stay Beds

Standard Room
In long-term care (LTC) homes built after 1998, a standard bedroom is a room with one or two beds and a shared washroom. In LTC homes built before 1998, a standard bedroom is a room with three or more beds. The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care mandates that at least 40 per cent of the beds in a LTC home must be available at the basic accommodation rate. LTC home operators must not charge more than the regulated maximum government basic accommodation rate for a standard bedroom. A resident paying the basic accommodation rate may be eligible for a rate reduction, dependent on specific criteria. See Accommodation and Accommodation Costs

Standards
The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care sets minimum resident care standards and services requirements with which long-term care home operators must comply. There are 37 Standards in the Long-Term Care Facility Program Manual. Each standard has supporting criteria. In total, there are 426 supporting criteria. See also Finding, Inspection and Unmet Standard/Criteria

Substitute Decision Maker (SDM)
The person that has the legal authority to make decisions relating to personal care issues and/or property matters on behalf of an individual who is not capable of making and understanding the consequences of his or her decisions. See also Residents' Council

Timeframe
This is the specified reporting period for information and data used for public reporting.

Unmet Standards/Criteria
These are inspection findings issued by Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care inspectors during the course of any Ministry inspection, including follow-up visits and complaint investigations. The reported numbers of unmet standards/criteria were issued for a long-term care (LTC) home operator under the 18 sections of the Long-Term Care Facility Program Manual. Each number for a LTC home operator is compared to a provincial comparison number. The provincial comparison number is the average number of unmet standards/criteria issued per LTC home (for all LTC homes) within the specified reporting period. See also Finding, Inspection, Provincial Comparisons and Standards

Verified Concerns
Verified concerns are complaint concerns from the public that were substantiated or found to be true, based on any investigation by Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care inspectors. These may result in an unmet standard/criteria or citation issued against the long-term care long-term care (LTC) home operator. Verified concerns are reported as an adjusted rate per 100 beds for comparison purposes. For example, a 50-bed home will have the rate adjusted as if it were a 100-bed home. A 300-bed home will have the number adjusted as if it were a 100-bed home. Verified concerns are also compared to the average of all LTC homes within the specified reporting period, also adjusted per 100 beds. See also Complaint, Concern and Concern Types

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