An Ontario study revealed that a law mandating air conditioning in all resident rooms of long-term care (LTC) homes has significantly reduced mortality rates. According to Nathan Stall, the lead author and geriatrics lead at Sinai Health, air conditioning is now considered a crucial health requirement, rather than a luxury. The research, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, examined 73,578 resident deaths in Ontario from 2010 to 2023. It found that residents in LTC homes lacking air conditioning faced an eight percent higher risk of death during extreme heat days compared to those with air conditioning.
Through data analysis spanning 13 years, researchers estimated that the policy change prevented 33 resident deaths between 2020 and 2023. During this period, actual deaths totaled 308, while simulated deaths in facilities without air conditioning would have been 341. In 2021, Ontario mandated the installation of air conditioning in all LTC resident rooms by June 2022.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford pledged this change in 2020 after concerns were raised about sweltering conditions in LTC rooms during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, over 55 percent of LTC homes lacked air conditioning. Currently, all LTC homes have air conditioning, with only two exemptions due to ongoing redevelopment. The provincial directive requires operators to maintain operational air conditioning when outside temperatures reach or exceed 26 degrees Celsius.
Stall emphasized the significance of the study, citing increasing extreme heat events due to climate change and the pandemic-induced confinement of residents to their rooms, limiting access to air-conditioned communal spaces. The $200-million investment by the province was deemed worthwhile, with Stall highlighting the rapid and life-saving implementation of the policy change.
The study authors advocated for national air conditioning standards in LTC homes, pointing out the absence of similar policies in other Canadian provinces. They suggested Ontario’s approach could serve as a blueprint for the nation, especially considering the heightened vulnerability of the LTC population to extreme heat. Experts, including LTC researcher Pat Armstrong, echoed the call for enforced national standards and emphasized the need to assess the impact of heat on LTC staff. Ontario’s Ministry of Long-Term Care reported regular inspections and sanctions for non-compliance, with homes facing fines of up to $25,000.
