Building capacity in Ontario’s long-term care sector to safeguard residents’ well-being during infectious disease outbreaks

Within Ontario’s health system, the long-term care (LTC) sector is unique, given LTC homes serve as both residents’ primary place of residence and a setting in which they receive care. Residents of LTC homes are typically older and include people living with multiple health conditions who have complex physical, mental and social needs that are unique to the sector. The decline in immune response associated with ageing in general, coupled with the prevalence of comorbid conditions, makes LTC residents particularly vulnerable in the face of outbreaks of infectious diseases. To keep residents, staff and, visitors in LTC homes as safe as possible during disease outbreaks (including during pandemics), infection prevention and control (IPAC) efforts are an important tool to help prevent and mitigate transmission.