Editor: In two news releases from the Ontario government (April 8, 2022 and May 19, 2023) the Ford government promised “menus that provide a variety of foods every day, including fresh produce and local foods in season. More flexibility for each home to increase menu choices for residents and reduce food waste; and meals and snacks chosen with support from the home’s residents’ council and its administrator.”
It continued, “We believe long-term homes should be homes, not institutions, and a good meal is essential to good living,” (Paul Calandra, Minister of LTC). “That’s why for the second year in a row, we’re providing a major increase to improve the quality and variety of food for residents in long-term care.”
The new regulations under the Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021, that came into effect on July 11, 2022, ensure residents are provided with more individualized food choices, more fresh produce and local foods in season, and additional menu flexibility. Over the last two years, the government has increased funding for food and nutrition quality by more than 26 per cent.
We at Riverview Gardens have not seen much change in the menus for a very long time nor have we had local seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables added as promised by the Ontario government, until recently. Thanks to Mayor Canniff. We residents were fed up with asking our dietary department many times for improvements, so I reached out to Mayor Canniff. He stepped up personally on our behalf and contacted the dietary department at Riverview Gardens with our concerns.
Things have changed somewhat, but there is room for improvement. This is our “home” now and we simply ask for meals that are less institutional, more home cooked with variety and fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables that we enjoyed at our “previous home.”
We are extremely grateful to Mayor Canniff for personally taking the initiative to make our culinary experience here at Riverview Gardens more enjoyable.
Thank you.
Eleanor Blain
Chatham
