If you have a loved one in a hospital like Oakville Trafalgar Memorial, Sunnybrook, or Toronto General, you may have heard about "Bill 7" or the More Beds, Better Care Act. Introduced to ease the pressure on overwhelmed Ontario hospitals, this legislation has sparked confusion and concern among families. It allows hospitals to transfer seniors who no longer need acute care to "temporary" Long-Term Care (LTC) homes—potentially ones they didn't choose, and potentially far from their community.
For families seeking senior care in Toronto and Oakville, this raises a critical question: How do you ensure your aging parent recovers where they want to be, without being forced into a facility miles away?
The New Rules: Distance and Fines
Under the current regulations, if a patient is designated as "ALC" (Alternate Level of Care)—meaning they no longer need hospital treatment but need support—hospital placement coordinators can place them in an LTC home up to:
- 70 km away (in Southern Ontario)
- 150 km away (in Northern Ontario)
The most controversial aspect is the enforcement. If a patient refuses to move to the assigned temporary home while they wait for their preferred choice, they can be charged a daily fee of $400. That adds up to nearly $12,000 per month.
Protecting Your Choice: Private Home Care in Toronto & Oakville
The intent of the law is to free up hospital beds, not necessarily to institutionalize seniors. The best way to avoid the "Bill 7" scenario entirely is to discharge home with a robust support plan. This is where private home care becomes a vital resource.
Many seniors are kept in the hospital simply because they are waiting for an LTC bed. However, with the right level of in-home care in Toronto or Oakville—ranging from personal support to 24/7 nursing—most "ALC" patients can return to their own homes safely.
Why Choose Home Care for Discharge?
- Immediate Availability: Unlike LTC waitlists (which can span years), private home care can often start within 24-48 hours.
- Control: You maintain full control over who enters your home and the care schedule.
- One-on-One Attention: In a facility, staffing ratios can be 1:10 or higher. At home, care is 1:1.
- Bridge to Preferred Care: Even if a care home is the long-term goal, discharging home allows you to wait for your first-choice facility in comfort, rather than being moved to a temporary one 70km away.
How TheKey Can Help
Navigating a hospital discharge is stressful. Our Care Managers in Toronto and Oakville work directly with hospital discharge planners to prove that a safe home environment is possible. We create a comprehensive care plan that satisfies the medical team's requirements for discharge, allowing your loved one to return home immediately.
Don't let the system choose for you. If you are facing pressure to move a loved one, contact our local team to discuss our hospital-to-home transition services.
