Ministry of Long-Term Care (MLTC)
The main advocacy items OSNAC and FNAT have been supporting over the past 2 years include the following items. Great news - Most of these items are now underway and we continue to work with our partners including the MLTC to advocate further for Dietary Staffing needs as well.
Updating & Simplifying the Ministry of Long-Term Care Regulations - in progress
Increase to Food Budget/Nutrition Support - increase given in April 2022
Flexibility around meal choice options and menu planning - Regulations change in July 2022
Dietary Staff Increases & Training Support - in progress
Guidance Documents
Fixing Long Term Care Homes Act guidance documents provided by the Ministry of Long-Term Care
Food Funding
$13.07 per diem (as of April 1, 2024)
The raw food per diem has increased but is now also called ‘nutritional support’ (NS) envelope
This translates to a total of $13.07 per Resident per day to provide meals and snacks
The NS envelope funds all expenditures related to the purchase of raw food including food materials used to sustain life such as:
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All food and fluids provided to the Residents
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Commercial nutritional supplements
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Enteral feed formula
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Vitamin & mineral supplementation
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Food & beverage thickener
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Therapeutic & modified texture foods
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Speciality food items required to meet dietary needs such as gluten free products
This is a positive increase in funding; however, we continue to advocate the need for annual review of the NS envelope to reflect the continuing increases to food inflation costs.