Ontario Expanding Skin and Wound Care Training in Long-Term Care Homes
New provincial investment will train more than 1,100 long-term care staff to deliver specialized wound care directly in residents’ homes
TORONTO — Ontario expanding skin and wound care training is at the centre of a new $3.74 million provincial investment designed to improve resident care in long-term care homes across the province. The funding will train 1,100 staff in specialized skin and wound care—one of the most common and preventable issues facing seniors in long-term care. The announcement reflects Ontario’s broader commitment to ensuring seniors receive the right care in the right place while reducing avoidable hospital visits and emergency room congestion.
The announcement was made by Minister of Long-Term Care Natalia Kusendova-Bashta, who emphasized the importance of strengthening clinical skills across long-term care homes. “Having more staff trained in skin and wound care will support a better quality of life for residents and protect our health-care system,” she said in the official news release.
Why Ontario Expanding Skin and Wound Care Training Matters
Ontario expanding skin and wound care training addresses a significant challenge in the long-term care sector: seniors are more likely to experience pressure injuries, fragile skin, and chronic wounds due to age-related changes and complex health conditions. Without proper assessment and treatment, these conditions can worsen quickly—often resulting in emergency department visits or prolonged hospital stays.
This initiative builds on the province’s earlier $1 million investment to support three pilot programs delivered by Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Canada (NSWOCC) and Wounds Canada. The success of those programs has led to an expanded fourth stream designed to scale training province-wide.
Our government is investing $3.74 million in programs to train long-term care staff in skin and wound care.
This is part of our government’s efforts to protect Ontario by investing in public services, to ensure seniors get the right care, in the right place.
Learn more:… pic.twitter.com/ZLplqrghQg
— Natalia Kusendova-Bashta (@NatKusendova) November 18, 2025
What the Expanded Training Includes
Under the expansion, four specialized programs will train long-term care staff starting this winter:
Skin Wellness Associate Nurse (SWAN) Program
For 150 registered nurses and practical nurses seeking advanced wound care skills.
PSW & Caregiver Skin Health Course
For 600 personal support workers, focusing on prevention, early detection, and comfort-based care.
Accredited Wound Care Champion Program
For 150 regulated health professionals who will become in-house clinical leads within their homes.
Skin Health Program for Personal Care Providers
For 200 personal support workers, emphasizing day-to-day skin integrity practices.
Long-term care homes must apply directly through NSWOCC and Wounds Canada to secure placement for their staff.
External resources (DoFollow):
Strengthening Long-Term Care Across Ontario
This investment aligns with the province’s ongoing work to modernize long-term care through its four-pillar plan:
-
Staffing and care
-
Quality and enforcement
-
Building modern, safe and comfortable homes
-
Connecting seniors to convenient access to services
Ontario is also moving toward its commitment to build 58,000 new and upgraded long-term care beds, while offering incentives for PSWs and nurses to join the sector.
Stronger Care, Closer to Home
Experts say this expansion will significantly impact resident well-being. Catherine Harley, CEO of NSWOCC, praised the move as “a demonstration of respect for the health and dignity of seniors living in Ontario.” Wounds Canada CEO Mariam Botros added that funded and accredited education is “crucial to reducing preventable wounds.”
Local MPP Billy Pang also called the investment an important step in ensuring residents receive high-quality support without relying on hospital facilities.
By expanding access to specialized training, the government aims to create a more consistent standard of care across Ontario’s long-term care homes—reducing pressure on hospitals, improving quality of life for residents, and strengthening staff expertise.
GTA Today — Local News. Real Impact.
For more stories that matter to communities across the GTA, follow us on social media @GTAWeeklyNews.
