The objective of this study is to compare the sociodemographic characteristics, quality of care, and health outcomes of Francophone, Allophone, and Anglophone individuals receiving home care or residing in long-term care (LTC) facilities in Ontario at three stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Language group is determined using Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) indicators related to the language spoken at home.

The study is based on the hypothesis that Francophone and Allophone populations face greater barriers to accessing care, that language discordance is associated with poorer outcomes, and that the pandemic exacerbated existing inequities, particularly among socioeconomically vulnerable groups.

The cohort includes all Ontarians aged 50 years and older who received long-stay home care or resided in LTC facilities during three periods: pre-pandemic (March 2019–March 2020), the early pandemic phase (March–December 2020), and the post-vaccination period (December 2020–December 2021). Analyses account for individual characteristics (chronic conditions, functional status, cognitive status, and sociodemographic factors), facility characteristics, and the services received. The first three objectives will be addressed using descriptive analyses, while multivariable models will be used to identify factors associated with COVID-19 outcomes.

This study will contribute to a better understanding of linguistic equity issues in home care and long-term care, two sectors that are particularly important for official language minority communities.