NEWS RELEASE
COUNTY OF SIMCOE
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The County of Simcoe is excited about the recent announcement from the Province of Ontario regarding its investment of nearly $75 million aimed at bolstering the long-term care workforce. This funding emphasizes the need for effective recruitment, training, and retention of skilled professionals who care for seniors throughout the province.
At the County of Simcoe, our focus is on investing in people, particularly within our four long-term care homes and various seniors’ services.
“The quality of care our residents receive is a direct reflection of the dedicated people who work in our long-term care homes every day,” said Warden Basil Clarke. “Simcoe County has made significant investments in staffing, recruitment, and professional development because we know a strong workforce leads to better outcomes for residents. We welcome Ontario’s continued commitment to strengthening the long-term care sector and supporting the professionals who provide compassionate, high-quality care to our seniors.”
From 2021 to 2025, staffing hours across our four long-term care homes increased by over 40 percent, resulting in approximately 200 new positions focused on resident care. As a result, county homes continue to provide exceptional service with residents receiving an average of 4.65 hours of direct care each day across all long-term care facilities in 2025 and 2026-well above provincial standards.
The county is also dedicated to building a strong workforce for future needs. Over recent years, long-term care and senior services have:
onboarded 464 new employees including more than 90 nurses while hosting recruitment events and streamlining hiring processes that helped attract talented healthcare professionals enrolled 11 nurses in the Community Commitment Program for Nurses (CCPN), which offers up to $25,000 in recruitment incentives along with additional rural bonuses for eligible positions registered 62 personal support workers through provincial funding programs that assist recruitment into long-term care careers enrolled 11 RNs/RPNs via the new Ontario Health JOIN LTC funded initiative provided up to $3,500 per year in education incentives offered higher compensation and benefits compared to other organizations within the long-term care sector
The county has also promoted staff advancement through educational initiatives and career development opportunities that allow employees to enhance their skills while serving residents. Furthermore, by fostering a stronger internal workforce, agency staffing costs have been cut down by 77 percent in 2026 compared to those in 2024.
We take staffing levels within our long-term care homes very seriously and are committed to making sure that meeting residents’ needs remains top priority for all employees. We continuously strive to enhance quality across all facilities by ensuring compliance with all requirements through improved monitoring practices. Our goal is not just adequate staffing but exceeding provincial standards when possible while promoting a balanced work life for our valued team members.
Provincial recruitment and retention programs have further supported these efforts by helping connect more nurses and personal support workers with fulfilling careers caring for Ontario’s seniors.
As demand grows for long-term care services, Simcoe County stays focused on prioritizing residents’ needs while supporting our devoted staff so local seniors receive high-quality care with dignity they deserve.
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