Find the latest news, initiatives and inspiring stories from Seniors Services and Long-Term Care. These updates reflect our commitment to inform and engage with the people, programs and innovations that make the City a recognized leader in quality care and transformative services for healthy aging.
Winter 2025
The Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Quality Improvement (QI) initiative at Lakeshore Lodge is helping reduce UTIs and unnecessary testing in long-term care homes. This work is improving health and safety for residents.
By analyzing root causes and introducing practical, evidence-based solutions – like standardized assessment tools, improved team communication, and streamlined lab processes – the care team achieved meaningful and sustained reductions in UTIs and inappropriate testing.
The Canadian Society for Long-Term Care Medicine featured this work in its national webinar series, where experts shared strategies to help long-term care homes across Canada adopt similar practices. A recording of the webinar is available to support homes in reducing UTIs.
Kipling Acres is supporting a new initiative to promote the appropriate use of antipsychotic medications in partnership with the Institute for Safe Medication Practices Canada, Behaviour Supports Ontario and the clinical pharmacist. Identified residents living on Beaumond Heights and Humber Heights are part of this collaborative quality improvement project working to ensure medications are used appropriately and safely, enhancing resident well-being.
As part of the City’s commitment to supporting seniors and older adults, Toronto Public Health, the Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation and Seniors Services are piloting a nutrition education program called Healthy Eating, Healthy Aging.
The program covers age-related nutrition needs through interactive sessions delivered in multiple languages by public health dietitians and community educators. Until early 2026, the pilot is offering up to twenty-four sessions in eight buildings, covering a variety of nutrition topics.
Healthy Eating, Healthy Aging is designed to meet the diverse needs of older adults, and early results show strong engagement, with over 180 participants attending the first sessions.
A quality improvement initiative at Castleview Wychwood Towers has standardized the administration of Prolia (denosumab), a medication used to treat osteoporosis, to reduce errors and improve outcomes. As Prolia is administered only once every six months, timing errors can occur. By aligning administration dates to the 15th of the month, the care team has created a consistent schedule that reduces risk and ensures safer, more reliable medication practices.
In 2026, Accreditation Canada will conduct on-site visits to assess performance against national standards for quality and safety and observe compliance.
Staff are actively preparing by reviewing policies, strengthening practices and testing compliance in key accreditation areas.
Chapter Champion certificates will be awarded to the LTC home with the highest knowledge retention score based on staff participation and accuracy. Congratulations to Carefree Lodge for earning the Chapter Champion title for Enabling Infection and Prevention Control Practices – a vital step in keeping residents and staff safe.
For more information about Accreditation, email LTCaccreditation@toronto.ca.
Ontario’s Minister of Long-Term Care, Natalia Kusendova-Bashta, visited two City long-term care homes, Wesburn Manor and Kipling Acres, to meet residents, staff and volunteers, and learn how the clinical pathways program is improving care.
As a Registered Nurse, the Minister sought firsthand feedback from nurses on the rollout of the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO) Clinical Pathways program for long-term care. The clinical pathways program integrates assessments into residents’ health records, supporting regulatory and legislative compliance.
At Cummer Lodge, the IPAC Team prepared creative ways to recognize the importance of infection prevention and control throughout home operations, including:
Lakeshore Lodge marked IPAC Week with a vibrant celebration featuring interactive games and educational activities.
Highlights included:
Staff, volunteers, residents and their loved ones enthusiastically participated to raise awareness and reinforce best practices in infection prevention and control.
At Seven Oaks, the focus was on vaccinations, including COVID-19 and influenza shots for residents, staff members and volunteers. To learn more, watch this Staff Vaccination Campaign 2025 video to see how the team is rolling up their sleeves to get vaccinated in advance of respiratory virus season.
In November, the Toronto Seniors’ Forum (TSF) recognized four outgoing volunteer members whose contributions helped shape programs and policies that support older adults citywide. TSF is a lived experience program advisory body that provides input and advice to the City on municipal priorities and programs. In the past two years, this work has included:
Kipling Acres residents attended a Thanksgiving celebration hosted by the Toronto Police Service at Humber College. They enjoyed live music, dancing, a delicious holiday feast and the opportunity to visit with the Premier of Ontario, Doug Ford, who was on hand to spread holiday cheer.
The Toronto Inter-Home Volunteer Fair at Castleview Wychwood Towers brought together 55 volunteers from across the City’s long-term care homes to share ideas and learn strategies for enhancing resident engagement.
Guest speakers provided useful information and perspectives on how the volunteers could enhance their experience and better connect with residents with dementia, including:
At Cummer Lodge, 23 residents from all ten City long-term care homes gathered for the annual Residents’ Summit, a forum for sharing ideas and shaping care. The agenda for the participants included:
CareTO is our made-in-Toronto person-centred approach to care that shapes how we think, act and deliver care and services to residents and clients. This culture change builds on the incredible work already taking place in the City’s long-term care homes.
Every City long-term care home now has a dedicated CareTO Project Lead who is partnering with care teams to bring CareTO to life. This will enhance care experiences and support meaningful change.
To spark engagement, Project Leads are hosting CareTO Introduction sessions for residents, clients, loved ones, staff and volunteers. They are also gathering insights through staff surveys, helping identify priorities and shape next steps.
Earlier this year, residents and families shared their perspectives through the Your Opinion Counts (YOC) survey. Looking forward, we will create opportunities for conversation with in-person and virtual consultations, ensuring that the voices of all those who live, work and visit continue to guide this culture change journey. To learn more, visit CareTO.
Lakeshore Lodge residents enjoyed a Taste of Korea Culinary Showcase, featuring a live cooking demonstration by Chef Vicky, who prepared authentic dishes including sujeonggwa, bibimbap and kkwabaegi. The interactive experience allowed residents to enjoy delicious food while they learned more about Korean culture, fostering social connection and cultural exploration.
For three years, corporate volunteers from eBay have brought holiday cheer to residents of Castleview Wychwood Towers through music, decorations and friendly visits. Their generosity extends to providing gifts for residents without family, ensuring everyone feels valued and included during the holiday season.
Wesburn Manor residents gathered for a special luncheon prepared by Chef Mariya, featuring traditional cabbage rolls and a warm caramel ginger spice cake.
The interactive experience allowed residents to observe the cooking process, ask questions and enjoy a delicious meal together – strengthening connections between chefs and residents.
The Knotty Knitters are a dedicated group of volunteers who raise funds by creating and selling beautiful handmade items. Over the years, their talent has helped raise thousands of dollars to support resident programs. With growing success, they now hold sales at Seven Oaks, Bendale Acres and True Davidson Acres.
Carefree Lodge residents participated in an engaging workshop led by students from Budjettech, a robotics club at Dr. Norman Bethune Collegiate Institute. Residents spent the afternoon tapping into their Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) skills, building mini robots with the materials provided by the students. The intergenerational experience offered mental stimulation and meaningful connections as residents built mini robots and shared ideas with young innovators.
At Fudger House, residents are embracing creativity and connection through two new recreation programs:
Together, these programs enrich daily life at Fudger House, blending creativity, community and compassion.
For the third year, residents at True Davidson Acres requested to start the holiday season with a favourite order-in chicken dinner, gathering as a community to savour a tradition many held with loved ones before moving into long-term care. The team enjoys being able to support residents with familiar traditions and introducing them to new ones.
A dedicated Workforce Management team is using innovative recruitment strategies to screen candidates and fill vacant positions in the City’s ten long-term care homes.
At Seven Oaks, efficient circuit-style interviews, allowing multiple candidates to be interviewed simultaneously, have been successful for both candidates and hiring managers.
Of the 75 candidates interviewed in early September, 31 of the 35 successful applicants began working by October, helping ensure residents receive consistent, high-quality care.
The Cummer Lodge Confronting Anti-Black Racism Committee donated ten backpacks filled with school supplies to students at Drewry Secondary. This small special needs school focuses on providing academic and life skills courses in a safe and nurturing environment. This initiative supports equity and inclusion by providing essential resources to students who face systemic and personal challenges. More than just supplies, the backpacks represent dignity, care and community solidarity.
Take Our Kids to Work Day invites grade 9 students to join their parents and guardians to experience a day of work. At the City of Toronto, students can take part in various activities and learn about careers within the municipal public service. For Adian, shown here with his mother, Nailah, and official mascots for FIFA 2026, Maple, Zayu and Clutch, that included a tour of City Hall and this end-of-day reflection: “What you all do is important! SSLTC does important work for seniors in our communities, and all City workers take care of the rest of us in the City!”
