Residents from 2005 to July 2024 Impacted

A significant data breach has affected a long-term care facility in Milton, with personal health information of residents exposed.

In a statement issued on December 23, Halton Region confirmed the breach, which compromised the health data of individuals who lived at Allendale Long-Term Care Home between 2005 and July 2024. The breach stemmed from a cybersecurity incident in June involving third-party software used by the facility. While the initial report did not indicate any data compromise, Halton Region later confirmed in September that unauthorized access had occurred, affecting personal details such as names, health information, and health card numbers.

Upon further investigation, it was revealed that the breach potentially impacted all electronic health records (EHR) for residents dating back to 2005.

The Region is working with the vendor to secure the systems, bolster security protocols, and review internal procedures. A security expert has been hired to assess the incident’s full scope and monitor for potential misuse of the exposed data.

Halton Region expressed regret over the situation, apologizing for any distress it may have caused to residents and their families.

“We sincerely apologize for any concern or inconvenience this may have caused and recognize the potential impact on you and your family,” reads the statement.

Residents affected by the breach are encouraged to contact the Region for more information at allendaleinquiries@halton.ca. Additionally, individuals have the right to file a complaint with the Information and Privacy Commissioner at ipc.on.ca.