The global COVID-19 pandemic highlighted some of the unique challenges within Canada’s long-term care (LTC) sector. Leveraging the extensive experience in facilitating the development of standards for health care facilities design, operation, and infection prevention and control, CSA Group initiated several activities to help ensure that LTC homes are safe for their residents and staff, including:

• identifying existing CSA standards that can be applied in LTC homes
• exploring standards-related gaps and needs of the LTC sector
• facilitating the development of a new standard for LTC home operations and infection prevention and control
• enhanced public engagement in the standard development process, including public consultations with various groups and communities, surveys, and informational sessions on the standard public review process
• support for embedding LTC standards into regulations
• training to help LTC operators and staff implement the requirements of a new standard for LTC home operations and infection prevention and control

These initiatives aim at helping ensure that more than 250,000 residents who call LTC facilities their home are receiving the quality of care they need and deserve.

In February 2023, CSA Group will host information sessions to raise awareness of the CSA Z8004 Standard and its impact on key stakeholders, including frontline workers and operational staff, residents, families, caregivers, and equity, diversity, and inclusion groups. Registration coming soon.