(October 6, 2020)<\/p>\n
By: Allan Benner, The Standard<\/p>\n
As COVID-19 outbreaks again increase at long-term care homes in Niagara and across the province, advocacy groups are renewing lobbying efforts for systemic changes they feel are needed to protect the residents of those facilities.<\/p>\n
Despite past outbreaks that claimed the lives of about 1,900 people across Ontario, Betty Miller from long-term care advocacy group Guardian Angels said staff shortages and hours of direct resident care have yet to be addressed, despite recent government announcements of $540 million in funding for long-term care homes.<\/p>\n
As the second wave of COVID-19 has started to impact long-term care homes, Miller said \u201cnothing much has changed since the pandemic started back on March.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re still understaffed. They should have hired more staff back in March and April,\u201d she said. \u201cDon\u2019t just start now. Now, it\u2019s too late. People are getting sick already.\u201d<\/p>\n
There were five long-term care and retirement homes in Niagara as of Tuesday with outbreaks of COVID-19 including Shalom Gardens, Meadows of Dorchester, Lundy Manor, Millennium Trail Manor and Pioneer Elder Care, which is experiencing outbreaks at three of its facilities.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, Miller will team up with Network 4 Long Term Care Advocacy Committee chair Carol Dueck and Niagara Health Coalition chair Sue Hotte for a demonstration at the Beamsville office of Niagara West MPP Sam Oosterhoff starting at 11 a.m.<\/p>\n
Hotte said her group has been raising awareness about issues within long-term care homes with the government for years.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe COVID-19 has exasperated everything,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
In an e-mail, Oosterhoff referred to millions in investments his government has made in long-term care since the pandemic began. In March, he said the province announced $243 million in emergency COVID-19 funding for long-term care homes, supporting screening efforts, additional staff, enhanced cleaning and surge capacity.<\/p>\n
And the recent funding announcement \u2014 including $405-million to enhance containment measures, provide staffing supports and personal protective equipment; $61.4 million for renovations in the homes to improve infection control, and about $30 million for increased staff and training \u2014 adds up to \u201cmore than a half a billion dollars we\u2019re spending and we\u2019re sparing no expense,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Oosterhoff said a \u201clandmark investment\u201d of $461 million increases wages for 147,000 personal support workers and will help stabilize the workforce.<\/p>\n
Thursday\u2019s demonstration will coincide with rallies planned for the offices of Conservative MPPs across the province, as well as at Queen\u2019s Park, organized by the Ontario Health Coalition.<\/p>\n
Hotte said the Beamsville event will include a motorcade of vehicles adorned with signs and decorations sharing messages about needed improvements to Ontario\u2019s long-term care homes.<\/p>\n
While the rally itself will be limited to less than 25 people who will be wearing masks and socially distanced via sidewalk chalk markings, Hotte said the motorcade allows far more people to participate.<\/p>\n
People participating in the motorcade are to meet in the parking lot at 5005 Ontario St. at about 10:30 a.m. to outfit their vehicles with signs and decorations.<\/p>\n
While Hotte said some signs will be provided by organizers, she asked people to create their own signs to ensure there will be enough for everyone.<\/p>\n