The RAIC recently issued a statement on long-term care and inadequate standards and codes.

“The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has revealed profound weaknesses in the way Canadians are accommodated as they age and require more support. It has become evident that the very design of the buildings in which they reside greatly affects the health and safety of residents and staff members,” reads the statement, adding that crowding of multiple residents can spread infections.

The statement noted that two recently released key standards and the National Building Code of Canada (NBCC) fail to address the need, on the basis of fundamental health and safety, to eliminate shared bedrooms and bathrooms in Canada’s LTC homes. The Health Standards Organization (HSO) has recently released a revised standard on Long-Term Care Services that focuses on care and the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) has released a complementary standard that focuses on infection prevention and control.

“Architects have a responsibility to advocate for Canadians and to create spaces that meet their needs and advance the public interest. Architects advocate for a new vision: places to live and to call home, and where there is support to live one’s life to the fullest possible – to one’s last breath,” reads the statement.