Advocacy Presentation to Family Council Network LHIN 2

1. Advocacy Presentation to Family Council NetworkLHIN 2 Gilbert Heffern Director of Communications and Public Affairs April 23, 2008 Ontario Long Term Care Association

2. Who we are • OLTCA has been around for almost 50 years • We represent the operators of: • 430 long term care homes • Homes care for 50,000 residents • Represent all types of providers • Private, NFP, Charitable and Municipal Ontario Long Term Care Association

3. Advocacy 1 of 4 core functions • Advocate with the province for funding and policies that support Members to enhance care and service delivery to residents • Advocacy is a daily process • Meetings, presentations, partnerships etc. • Public campaigns like ‘LTC needs more than a band aid’ part of that process • Appreciate the support that Family Councils have provided Ontario Long Term Care Association

4. Outcomes vary • Sometimes success in the short term, like with the recent budget • Sometimes it takes 10 years or longer, like the capital renewal program for B and C homes • Sometimes the support for a position is just not there, for many reasons • Not urgent, judged impractical, too expensive, negatively impact others etc. Ontario Long Term Care Association

5. You can maximize the potential for success Ontario Long Term Care Association

6. Understand the context • Governments seldom, if ever, automatically do things because it is ‘the right thing to do’ • Every stakeholder representation is ‘the right thing to do’ • Politics is ‘decisions on the allocation of scarce resources’ • There will never be enough resources to do the right thing for everyone • It is a competitive, but not always confrontational, process • Multiples competitors for agenda space, air time, policy outcomes, resources • Sometime competitors complement, sometimes conflict Ontario Long Term Care Association

7. Getting on the agenda • This is a pre-requisite • If not on the agenda, then there will never be a decision • Process takes some work and time • Up front planning pays off in: • Smoother execution with fewer surprises • Enhanced competitive positioning vis-à-vis others Ontario Long Term Care Association

8. Getting on the agenda • Establish your credentials • Who you are • Why you are knowledgeable • Why you are a legitimate representative • Good idea to write it down • ‘The LHIN 2 Family Council Network is the elected representative of Family Councils in xx long term care homes in LHIN 2. Each Family Council is composed of the sons and daughters of the xxx residents who live in these homes.” • Family Councils have ‘natural credibility’ as third party voice Ontario Long Term Care Association

9. Getting on the agenda • Specifically define your issue • What would provide more care? • Get the facts • What supports, what doesn’t • Be selective – what makes the best case • Build your story • Problem, impact, solution, benefit • Make it real with credible, personal examples • A theme (e.g. LTC needs more than a band aid) helps Ontario Long Term Care Association

10. Getting on the agenda • Get prepared to tell your story • Who can make the decision you want? • Provincial government, LHINs, other • When/how does that decision get made? • Manager, Board meeting, only at budget time ? • Who are the prime decision makers? • Premier, Minister, Board Chair, manager etc. • Do you have a link with decision-maker? • Who else does the decision-maker talk to? Ontario Long Term Care Association

11. Getting on the agenda • Position your story • Look for the win–win • How does the decision you are seeking line up with the decision-maker’s agenda • Does not mean that your efforts won’t be confrontational • Even if they are, you are providing the decision-maker with a rationale for the ‘right’ decision in the end • Works for both public and non-public advocacy initiatives Ontario Long Term Care Association

12. Example: More staff in homes reduces emergency room wait times • More staff to monitor and assist residents in the home • More programs and activities to enhance physical and mental stimulation • Enhanced dietary services to maintain weight and strengthen immune systems • Enhanced clinical assessments • Strong infection control programs Ontario Long Term Care Association

13. Getting on the agenda • Telling your story • Tell your members/supporters first • Get internal buy-in. Nothing will sink an advocacy initiative faster than internal dissent that gets exposed • Identify and brief other stakeholders who will likely support • E.g. home, hospital, professional groups, volunteer agency, councils etc. • Ensure home is aware • Build conduits to, and bridges with, decision-makers • Meet with elected officials, political staffers, LHIN Board members etc. • Get on public agendas e.g. LHIN board meetings, petitions in the legislature Ontario Long Term Care Association

14. Getting on the agenda • The Media • Make the media a part of your strategy • Sometimes works, sometimes doesn’t • Generally works best for campaigns that require public awareness • Tell your story yourself • Focus on issues, not personalities • Seldom a good idea to blindside elected representatives, home, others directly impacted • Be prepared to respond to the media even if you don’t proactively seek media exposure Ontario Long Term Care Association

15. Build and maintain momentum • Enlist others to deliver supporting messages • E.g. get all family members to email their MPP • Follow-up key meetings (e.g. MPP) in writing with a request for a formal response • Piggyback on other events • E.g. Look for the ‘this is an example of what we were talking about’ stories that you can position with local media • Formally track meetings, media stories, reactions, other developments • Assess progress, ideas for future initiatives Ontario Long Term Care Association

16. Build and maintain momentum • Stay in touch with your team • Provide current feedback and respond to requests for support • Be prepared to respond to reasonable requests for additional information • Stay in control of the message • Don’t let your agenda get hijacked by partners or others • Avoid frustration! Ontario Long Term Care Association

17. Assessing progress • Look for signs someone is listening • “Gilbert, she yelled at me!” • Be prepared to accept that it is not working • Don’t take it personal or as failure • Realistically assess the effort and feedback messages • Be prepared to adjust and reposition • Capital renewal • ‘treat all residents alike’ didn’t work • ‘Time for Ontario to get rid of 3 and 4 bed wards’ did Ontario Long Term Care Association

18. LHINs • A potentially new advocacy target • Role re: LTC still evolving • LTC funding amounts decided centrally • Compliance is central • Role in capital renewal program yet to be determined • Suggested strategy • Discuss LHIN relationship with home on a regular basis • Educate Ontario Long Term Care Association

19. Comments, Questions Ontario Long Term Care Association