Legal Services

A retirement home support worker attends one day with a medical note informing you of a back condition. The note states the employee is unable to lift weights more than 10 pounds or stand for more than 15 minutes at a time. Support workers generally need to assist in lifting of residents and are required to stand for prolonged periods, so it is clear the worker will not be able to continue to perform his or her duties of employment as before.

Protecting privacy rights is a growing concern for retirement home residents and providers. For residents, maintaining privacy helps improve quality of life by promoting dignity, respect and independence. For providers, ensuring resident privacy rights are protected is not only a quality of care issue, but also a legal requirement in most jurisdictions.

The Obligation to Report a Critical Injury of a Non-Worker

Despite a controversial 2009 decision by the Ontario Labour Relations Board (Board) against Blue Mountain Resorts Limited, many employers operating in Ontario are still not aware of the obligation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) to report a critical injury suffered by any person,including a non-worker, which occurs in a workplace.

In the past twenty years, the range of retirement living and long term care options for senior citizens has expanded along with the elderly population. With an eye on senior citizens' preferences and their pocket books, the geriatric care industry now offers a rich continuum of care facilities and services, from in-home assistance, to assisted living centers, to hospice homes.