2023-24 Cummer Lodge Progress ReportWe are currently recruiting volunteers to support residents at Cummer Lodge.

Cummer Lodge provides individualized care to each of its 391 residents within a safe and friendly environment. Guided by the CARE values – Compassion | Accountability | Respect | Excellence, we are committed to improving quality of life and support for healthy aging.

  • To learn more, watch the Commitment to Care video.
  • Cummer Lodge is one of 10 City-operated long-term care homes.
  • We appreciate your help in keeping residents safe and ask that you adhere to all infection, prevention and control measures when planning a visit.
  • To learn about long-term care homes in Ontario and get help applying, visit the provincial website. You can also review provincial information and reports on Cummer Lodge.

Built in 1970 and renovated in 2000, Cummer Lodge has 391 beds, sits on 4.5 acres of landscaped property overlooking a wooded ravine.

All resident bedrooms have air conditioning.

Special language and cultural partnerships within the home community include:

  • Cantonese
  • Jewish
  • Korean
  • Mandarin

Cummer Lodge offers the following specialized services:

Behavioural Support Programs

As recognized leaders in behavioural support programs, we have a long history of demonstrated knowledge of dementia, delirium and mental health in the delivery of care. Cummer Lodge has a Ministry-designated 16-bed Behavioural Support Unit which receives enhanced funding.

Staff and medical professionals are knowledgeable in the most prevalent types and related causes of behavioural issues, understand disease processes, stages and progression, diagnostic and assessment process, cognitive or neurological symptoms, treatment interventions, appropriate communication to address resident needs, strategies to promote optimal quality of life and experience of the behaviour(s) from the perspective of the resident, family members and other partners in care.

Toronto Emergency Management (TEM) leads and facilitates activities related to the City’s ability to mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from major emergencies.

We have incorporated the City’s Business Continuity Management and Toronto’s Emergency Plan into an Emergency Management Plan for the City’s directly operated long-term care homes.

Cummer Lodge has a structured emergency management process of risk identification, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.

The scope of emergency management planning includes a variety of hazardous situations that may occur inside or outside of the long-term care home, such as:

  • fire
  • natural disaster
  • biochemical and bomb threats
  • chemical spills
  • radiation exposure
  • threats of personal violence
  • power failure
  • utilities and telecommunications failure

All staff members are trained to respond to these universal codes for emergencies:

  • Code Red: Fire
  • Code Black: Bomb Threat
  • Code Yellow: Missing Resident
  • Code Green: Evacuation
  • Code Orange: External Disaster
  • Code White: Violent Behaviour
  • Code Blue: Cardiac Arrest
  • Code Brown: Hazardous Spill
  • Code Grey: Infrastructure Failure

In addition, we follow the Incident Management System (ISM) and have a robust Crisis/Disaster Communication Protocol.

For further information, please contact Cornel Baptista, Manager Environmental Services

Joanne Kang , Administrator, Designated Quality Improvement Lead and Chair of Site Continuous Quality Improvement Committee

Elizabeth Juraschka, Divisional Quality Improvement Advisor and Chair of Divisional Quality Council

Priority Areas for 2024-25

The quality improvement plan (QIP) for 2024/25 and Narrative reflects our commitment to enhancing equity, improving resident and family experience, fostering innovation, integrating palliative care, and aligning with external partners to improve care outcomes.

Quality Improvement Priority Selection Process

The quality improvement priority selection process reflects the collaboration and analysis of statistical data trends, program evaluations, Ministry of Long-Term Care reports, results from the Resident and Family experience survey “Your Opinion Counts”, Ontario Health system level priority areas, and collaborations with healthcare partners. The selection process is a balance between the many opportunities, resources available to support quality improvement work and the significant impact on the quality of care and service that can be achieved. The Quality Improvement Plan is developed through consultation and approved by the Site Continuous Quality Improvement Committee.

Policies, Procedures and Protocols that Guide Continuous Quality Improvement

Seniors Services and Long-Term Care (SSLTC) is committed to the provision of care and service through the application of a quality improvement theory that seeks to meet the needs and improve quality of care and services.  Quality improvement policies have been established to guide quality improvement work and are align with the Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021, Accreditation standards and required organizational practices, Ontario Health requirements, and the Excellent Care for All Act, 2010

Divisional Quality Council, Site Continuous Quality Improvement Committee and Divisional Committee Structures

Structures and accountability are in place to support the commitment to quality improvement which includes, authorization to the General Manager from City Council to certify and approve on behalf of the City, the home’s annual Quality Improvement Plan(s) (QIPs) for submission to Ontario Health.

Seniors Services and Long-Term Care’s integrated quality management framework overseen by the divisional Quality Improvement Advisor considers and acts on opportunities to improve in areas related to strategic direction, quality improvement, risk management, and safety culture.

At a site level, the General Manager has delegated day-to-day operational accountability for quality improvement and risk management outcomes and innovation to the Administrator of each home.

The terms of reference of each committee reflects legislative requirements of membership and accountability.

Resident and Family Survey

The advice of Residents’ Council and Family Council was sought in developing and carrying out the annual Your Opinion Counts Survey which was administered in September 2023.

The results were presented to Residents’ Council and Family Council in February 2024, and advice was received in the development of the Quality Improvement Plan. Updates on the plan and projects will be provided throughout the year as requested by the chairs of these committees.

Communication and Record of Quality Improvement Work

A comprehensive communication strategy supports quality improvement work within the long-term care home and at the division level.  The actions enable the home to broadly communicate annual Quality Improvement Plans, the results of quality improvement activities to senior management, residents/clients, caregivers, families, staff and volunteers.  A central part of the communication strategy is to seek advice if any from Residents’ Council and Family Council and make improvements as appropriate to care and services.

  • A multicultural setting, where residents of diverse religions and cultures live together while respecting each other beliefs and traditions, we offer a variety of culturally appropriate services
  • We believe that every resident has individual needs and must be involved in decisions regarding his or her care. Taking a holistic approach in the care of each resident, the inter-professional team of highly trained and dedicated staff considers the physical, intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual needs of each individual, to help each resident attain the highest possible quality of life. Care of the individual is planned with the resident and family/friend involvement to ensure it is consistent and based on resident’s values, beliefs, and wishes.

Families are an integral part in helping make the best decisions for their family member. We offer many opportunities for families to be involved:

  • Resident care conferences
  • Quality Improvement, Innovation and Risk Management Committee
  • Family Council
  • Satisfaction surveys
  • Volunteer services.
  • We value partnerships and work closely with our hospitals and faith groups including Jewish Family and Children Services. We receive education from the Alzheimer and Huntington’s Society in addition to organizations like REENA who support our residents who are developmentally delayed
  • We are proud of our over 300 volunteers – young and old – who support Cummer Lodge and our residents.

Take a Virtual Tour

This is an older video produced by the province and contains some outdated details. For further information or to schedule a personal tour, please call 416-392-9500.