A recent study led by Nathan Stall, a geriatrics expert at Sinai Health, revealed that a mandatory air conditioning policy in Ontario’s long-term care (LTC) homes has proven to be life-saving. The study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, analyzed 73,578 resident deaths in Ontario from 2010 to 2023. It found that residents in LTC homes without air conditioning in their rooms faced an eight percent higher risk of death during extreme heat days, emphasizing the critical health need for air conditioning.
Through data analysis spanning 13 years, researchers simulated the impact of the policy change and estimated that it prevented 33 resident deaths between 2020 and 2023. The study highlighted the significance of the legislation passed in 2021, which mandated air conditioning installation in all LTC resident rooms by June 2022.
During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Ontario Premier Doug Ford committed to this change following concerns raised by CBC News about the sweltering conditions in LTC rooms. Initially, 339 homes lacked air conditioning, but as of now, all LTC homes, except two undergoing redevelopment, have air conditioning installed in resident rooms as per the provincial requirement to ensure functional air conditioning on days with temperatures forecasted to reach 26°C or higher.
Stall emphasized the importance of the study amid increasing extreme heat events due to climate change. The research also highlighted the impact of restricted movement during the pandemic, where residents were confined to their rooms without access to air-conditioned common areas.
The investment of $200 million by the province in implementing this policy change was deemed worthwhile, with Stall emphasizing the clear life-saving benefits. The study authors advocated for national standards similar to those in Ontario, as heat-related risks could be more severe among vulnerable populations in other provinces. They stressed the need for enforced standards and further research on the effects of heat on LTC staff.
Ontario’s Ministry of Long-Term Care conducts regular inspections in LTC homes, issuing sanctions and fines for non-compliance with the regulations. The findings of the study underscore the importance of air conditioning in LTC facilities to safeguard residents’ health and well-being.