Advantage Ontario CEO Webinar - Questions with Bob Murphy
Bob Murphy had the pleasure of answering AdvantAge Ontario CEO Lisa Levin’s questions on her CEO Webinar of June 17, 2026. They discussed workforce-ready long-term care homes, why they matter, how they are designed, how expensive (or not) they are, and how operators can get started. Please click the link or read the transcript below.
AdvantAge Ontario CEO Webinar Recording
Lisa Levin (she/her)
03:15
Speaking of which, so I have Robert Murphy here, who's the president of Murphy Partners Seniors Housing, and they've worked with seniors living communities across Ontario for over 35 years, and I am going to be asking a bunch of questions, to Bob about… about business. So, how you doing, Bob?Bob Murphy
03:37
I'm terrific, Lisa, thank you.
Lisa Levin (she/her)
03:39
Good. So… We've been talking in the past about workforce-ready infrastructure. And what does that mean for owners and operators in long-term care and affordable housing?
Bob Murphy
03:52
Well, to me, it means creating buildings that truly support not just the people who live in them, but the people who work in them. And in long-term care especially, good design isn't just about meeting a standard or fitting a program into a building. It's about creating spaces that are supportive, sustainable, and satisfying. Supportive means safer and easier to work in. Sustainable means reducing stress and fatigue over time. And satisfying means staff can do their work with dignity, efficiency, and pride. When all of that happens, the residents benefit too.
Lisa Levin (she/her)
04:27
So, can you explain why this matters so much now, although I have an idea?
Bob Murphy
04:31
Well, I think it's because the demands on care teams have changed so much. Residents are arriving with more complex needs, and providers are working hard to recruit and retain staff in a very challenging environment. So the physical environment matters more than ever. Well-designed spaces can reduce stress and support smoother workflows, they can improve visibility, and cut down on wasted movement. Just as importantly, they can create calmer, more understandable environments for residents, and that'll improve the day-to-day experience for everyone.
Lisa Levin (she/her)
05:05
So, can you tell us what are some of the design features that have the biggest impact on that?
Bob Murphy
05:11
Well, there's a few that really stand out in my mind. Smaller, more homelike households can improve visibility, reduce walking distances, and strengthen relationships between residents and staff. While locating meds and charting, supplies and storage where the work actually happens can make daily routines much smoother. And then the dimensioned-informed basics also matter. Calm spaces, good lighting, clear sight lines, less clutter, better acoustics, and more recognizable environments. When the environment helps residents feel more at ease. Staff can spend more time on meaningful care, and less time on constant redirection.
Lisa Levin (she/her)
05:52
So, you've also made the point that staff spaces really matter.
Bob Murphy
05:56
I really do.
Lisa Levin (she/her)
05:56
Like, yeah.
Bob Murphy
05:57
They really do, because staff rooms, quiet rooms, wellness spaces, access to daylight or fresh air, these shouldn't be treated as luxuries or extras. They're part of creating a healthy workplace. People working in long-term care are already carrying a physical and emotional load every day, so when staff have places where they can regroup, or recharge, or maybe just take a breath. That supports resilience, morale, and retention. And it also sends an important message that the organization values the people doing this work.
Lisa Levin (she/her)
06:31
So that's all well and good, and… but not all of our members are able to afford a major redevelopment to create this amazing environment. So what would you say to them?
Bob Murphy
06:43
Well, you don't have to start with a major redevelopment. Some of the best improvements can begin quite small and be modest. You can maybe fix one workflow, improve just one staff space. Solve a storage problem, upgrade lighting in one area, reduce clutter, improve wayfinding, often relatively modest changes. can make a meaningful difference in how a building functions. And once people start to feel those improvements, it becomes much easier to build the support for bigger changes over time.
Lisa Levin (she/her)
07:16
Okay, well, so that's really encouraging, actually. So, what's the… what's the one idea you'd like to leave, With the owners and operators today.
Bob Murphy
07:28
Well, I think I'd like people to… Come to the conclusion: good design is not a luxury in our sector. It's part of how we support better care, a better staff experience, and better long-term outcomes. If a building helps staff to do their work more smoothly, with less stress, everybody benefits. The residents, the families, the staff, and the organization as a whole.
Lisa Levin (she/her)
07:54
So, can you give the people who are listening today and watching us a practical place to start?
Bob Murphy
08:01
Yeah, we've created a simple workforce-ready building review checklist for owners and operators. It's a practical one-page tool to help you look at your current building and quickly identify some opportunities to improve staff experience workflow, and resident outcomes. Listers can download it from the Murphy Partners website, that's murphypartners.ca backslash advantage.
Lisa Levin (she/her)
08:27
Okay, well, thank you so much. Well, that was really practical and timely, and we really appreciate you coming on with this. This helpful advice.
Bob Murphy
08:36
I'm glad, Lisa, it was my pleasure. Thanks very much.
Lisa Levin (she/her)
You're welcome.