Residents and loved ones of a long-term care home in Guelph, Ont., are shocked and afraid after learning the facility will be closing due to the inability to meet a deadline for installing a sprinkler system as required by the end of the year. LaPointe-Fisher Nursing Home, a 92-bed facility with 146 people on the waiting list, is one of the homes that will be closing. The president of the home’s family council expressed dismay at the closure, especially given the critical need for long-term care spaces in the province.
All long-term care homes in Ontario are required to have sprinkler systems installed by the end of the year, but LaPointe-Fisher has stated that meeting this requirement is not feasible due to structural issues in the aging building. Additionally, the home cited other challenges such as upcoming license expiry, construction cost increases, and health human resource challenges as reasons for their decision to close. The closure has left residents and their loved ones feeling shocked and unsure about what comes next, as they will have to transition to new homes.
Mount Nemo Christian Nursing Home in Burlington, Ont., is another facility planning to close due to the inability to install a sprinkler system in its current location, which lacks access to municipal services. The home had hoped to align its closure with the opening of a new home in Hamilton, but that project is not set to open until late 2026. Long-Term Care Minister Stan Cho stated that the ministry is reviewing data on sprinkler compliance and is discussing potential exceptional cases with the Ministry of the Solicitor General to balance safety requirements with the needs of long-term care homes.
The Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs has advocated for a legislated sprinkler requirement in long-term care homes, especially after fatal fires in seniors’ homes in the province. Fire officials have emphasized the importance of safety for residents and believe that owners of long-term care homes had adequate time to prepare for the sprinkler requirement. While the CEO of the Ontario Long-Term Care Association believes only a minority of homes are struggling to meet the requirement, efforts are being made to find solutions for those that are facing closure.
The Ministry of the Solicitor General and the Office of the Fire Marshal have been working with the Ministry of Long-Term Care and stakeholders to ensure homes remain in compliance with the Fire Code. Long-term care facilities that are unable to meet the sprinkler requirement will undergo a crisis admission process to help residents find new homes. The closure of these facilities has left residents feeling anxious about starting over in new environments with new roommates and staff, highlighting the challenges of relocating seniors in need of long-term care. Ultimately, efforts are being made to balance safety requirements with the needs of long-term care facilities facing closure.
