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<\/p>\n(July 24, 2020)<\/p>\n
By: Mike Ebbeling, CKDR<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Ontario Health Coalition is sounding alarms over the state of our long term care homes.<\/p>\n
A Coalition survey shows 95% of staff report that their long-term care facility is short staffed.<\/p>\n
It also shows 63% of staff report staffing levels are worse than before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.<\/p>\n
Executive Director Natalie Mehra says they\u2019ve heard horror stories from employees.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost of the homes. More than 100 of the staff reported that baths can\u2019t be done. Residents regularly are going without bathing and proper washing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mehra adds \u201cStaff haven\u2019t had time to explain COVID-19 to residents who are confused. They don\u2019t have time to visit with them. This really struck an emotional cord with staff who report that residents are lonely and yet staff have not had time to provide emotional care.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mehra stresses the Ford government must immediately increase staffing levels at the homes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are expecting a second wave. The long term care homes in Ontario are not ready. They\u2019ve already lost lots of staff because of illness, because they are afraid, and they do not have enough staff to get through a second wave.\u201d<\/p>\n
(With files from Sheri Leviski-Kotyk: Thunder Bay)<\/p>\n