Provincial inspection reports analyzed by The Canadian Press found three-quarters of the 616 nursing homes across Ontario have been cited for violating provincial standards that ensure residents are well fed, clean and free of pain.

Eleven Brampton nursing homes combined for 105 violations in 2007, according to the CP findings.

Officials found more than half of the problems had to do with the quality of care seniors receive, with the rest pointing to things like the administration of drugs and documentation.

Among the homes cited is Tullamore nursing home— located at 133 Kennedy Rd., South, just south of Queen Street East— where inspectors reported 16 residents were identified with their restraints applied incorrectly, and one resident "slid down her wheelchair with the seatbelt choking her."

Leisureworld Inc. purchased Tullamore from Diversicare earlier this year.

David Cutler, Leisureworld CEO, said the company is making numerous improvements on the issues identified by inspectors.

"We were made aware of them (violations) at the time the sale was happening and absolutely we have people in there addressing them and fixing them as we speak," Cutler told The Guardian. "I think significant progress has been made.

"Quality is an ongoing issue. You are always working towards improving services so in that sense that's ongoing. But as far as resident safety is concerned, I believe the home is there already."

Provincial standards include guidelines on things like personal and dental hygiene care for residents and food quality.

Nursing home operators and long-term care providers argue the reports don't accurately portray the situation because many of the citations don't relate to the overall care of residents. However, critics argued the high number of violations relating to the well-being of residents suggests too many seniors are not getting the minimum standard of care.

In May, the Ontario Health Coalition presented figures obtained through a Freedom of Information Act that suggests the level of care nursing home residents receive is not improving despite millions of dollars flowing into the sector.

Coalition members, among them Dora Jeffries, OHC community chair and Brampton resident, argued too many Ontario seniors are not getting the minimum standard of care. At a meeting with community members, the OHC demanded the province increase the daily hours of "hands-on" care given to each individual in nursing facilities from 2.85 hours to 3.5 hours.

Jeffries cited research that shows seniors who receive at least 2.95 hours of hands on care per day are far better off than those who receive less. 

Peel Region operates two homes in Brampton (Peel Manor and Tall Pines).

Carolyn Clubine, Peel's director of long-term care, said both Peel Manor and Tall Pines were cited for "documentation-related" issues.

For instance, ministry inspectors found that health records at both facilities were not up-to-date.

Also, Peel is required to assess each resident's care and service needs every three months, or if there is a change in their health status. Inspectors found that this particular process was not updated in the three month period specified.

Clubine said the amount of paperwork that goes with the job ties up workers.

"When it comes to things that are documentation-related, there are very important jobs that need to be done on a constant basis to care for the residents," she said. "And unfortunately there are times where you have a little bit less time to do the paper work at the end of the day. There is concern in long term care generally that government does require a lot of documentation."

Facilities that receive a citation during an inspection must present a follow-up plan to investigators to demonstrate how the problems have been fixed.