Rebuilding with lessons learned from COVID-19
A downtown Toronto long-term care home is undergoing a comprehensive redesign that puts lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic at the forefront. The project aims to move beyond existing provincial standards, addressing gaps revealed during the crisis while maintaining a practical focus on safety, dignity, and quality of life for residents.
Why the redesign goes beyond provincial standards
Ontario’s care standards set a baseline for safety, infection control, and resident well-being. However, advocates and designers say those standards can lag behind best practices and evolving evidence from the pandemic era. The redesign team argues that a higher level of preparedness—lighting, airflow, layout, and staffing adaptability—requires proactive planning rather than reactive fixes. The plan emphasizes modular spaces, flexible care zones, and better access to outdoor areas, aiming to reduce transmission risk and improve the resident experience even in non-crisis times.
Key design elements rooted in pandemic learnings
Among the cornerstone features are improved ventilation with upgraded filtration, more spacious resident rooms to support physical distancing when needed, and predictable traffic patterns to minimize cross-traffic between people with different care needs. The facility is exploring airborne infection controls, including dedicated isolation rooms that balance clinical needs with the importance of person-centered care. By creating clear zones for anticipated outbreaks, staff can respond quickly without major upheaval to daily routines.
Resident-centered spaces that support dignity
Beyond clinical safety, the redesign prioritizes spaces that preserve autonomy and social connection. Larger, better-lit common areas, accessible outdoor courtyards, and adaptable activity rooms are planned to encourage social interaction while respecting privacy. The design also considers cognitive support, such as intuitive wayfinding and quieter environments that reduce confusion for residents living with dementia or memory loss.
Staff workflow and operational resilience
Efficient staff workflows are essential to delivering high-quality care. The new layout aims to shorten response times and improve teamwork by aligning nursing stations more closely with resident rooms and service areas. Flexible spaces can be repurposed for surge staffing, education, or vaccination clinics, which proved critical during the COVID-19 response. The project also contemplates supply chain resilience and streamlined cleaning protocols to protect both residents and workers.
Community and accountability
The redevelopment includes stronger collaboration with residents, families, and the broader Toronto health network. Transparency about design choices, infection control measures, and ongoing maintenance plans is central to rebuilding trust after the pandemic. This approach reflects a broader trend in which long-term care facilities engage stakeholders in continuous quality improvement rather than treating design as a one-off upgrade.
Ontario standards under review?
Some experts argue that provincial standards should adapt more quickly to changing evidence from health emergencies. The Toronto project serves as a real-world case study that could influence future policy updates. Proponents say updating standards would not only improve preparedness but also provide clearer benchmarks for operators, designers, and regulators, reducing confusion and speeding adoption of best practices across the sector.
Looking ahead
As the city moves forward with the rebuild, planners emphasize that safety, comfort, and dignity must coexist. By integrating pandemic-informed design with everyday usability, the project seeks to deliver a long-term care home that is both resilient against health crises and welcoming for residents and staff alike. Stakeholders are hopeful that the lessons learned will catalyze broader improvements in how Ontario designs, regulates, and operates long-term care facilities.
