Long Term Care, Retirement Home and Congregate Living Health Standards

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This page is for operators and staff of long term care, retirement home and congregate living settings. Visit Preventing Infections for information for the general public.

Public Health helps prevent the spread of disease to residents and staff of long term care, retirement home and congregate living settings. We do this through institutional food premises inspections, monitoring and responding to outbreaks, and consulting on infection prevention concerns. Learn about the role of public health inspectors.

Preventing infections

Residents in long term care, retirement home and congregate living settings are more likely to get an infection because they may:

Have decreased immunity or underlying medical conditions
Encounter a lot of personal contacts
Live in close quarters

Because of this increased risk, it is important to follow infection protection and control (IPAC) best practices in these settings. Continue reading this page for advice specific to these settings. General information can be found on our Preventing Infections page.

Handwashing

Many infections are spread person-to-person by our hands. Infection can even be spread before symptoms show up or after they have stopped. Washing your hands is one of the best ways to prevent infections from spreading.

Wash your hands:

Before preparing, serving or eating food
After using the washroom
After coughing or sneezing

Facilities should:

Remind residents to wash their hands throughout the day. Encourage visitors to take the same precautions to protect themselves, relatives and friends.
Encourage all staff and visitors to wash their hands or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer before they enter and exit the facility.
Ask visitors to stay home if they are sick and to wash their hands before and after caring for a resident.

For more information on handwashing, including printable resources for your facility, visit Preventing Infections.

Other ways facilities can help prevent the spread of infection

Promote proper hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette.
Wear gloves, masks and gowns, when appropriate, to stop the spread of infection by following the steps for donning (putting on) and doffing (taking off) personal protective equipment.
Improve indoor air quality through measures such as increasing ventilation with outdoor air where possible, ensuring clean filters, controlling humidity, optimizing air exchange rates, and consulting with an HVAC contractor or knowledgeable staff to optimize ventilation in your facility.
Recommend residents receive an annual flu shot and keep vaccinations up-to-date for tetanus, diphtheria and pneumococcal disease.
Clean and disinfect equipment and surfaces in the facility, including common areas, washrooms, bathing facilities, floors, furnishings and walls.
Handle and prepare food according to food safety practices.
Ensure hair salons and barber shops comply with health standards.

Managing respiratory and gastrointestinal outbreaks

Respiratory & Gastrointestinal Outbreak Reporting Form Respiratory Disease Outbreak Bulletin

Use our online form to report confirmed and suspected cases of COVID-19 for residents in the following settings:

Hospitals
Long-term care homes
Retirement Homes
Congregate Living Settings
Emergency Shelters

Outbreak resources

Preparedness and management

Case definitions and disease-specific information

Ordering outbreak-related supplies (tests, PPE)

Visit Ordering outbreak supplies for information on ordering tests and personal protective equipment.

Additional resources

Enteric Outbreak Fact Sheet
Environmental Cleaning (Public Health Ontario)
IPAC Summary of Key Principles and Best Practices (Public Health Ontario)
Norovirus (Government of Canada)
Provincial Infectious Diseases Advisory Committee (PIDAC) Best Practice Documents