(January, 2016)<\/p>\n
By: ONA Frontlines<\/p>\n
ONA members and staff have honoured those impacted by violence and inadequate care in the province\u2019s long-term care (LTC) homes at a somber ceremony at Queen\u2019s Park on October 1.<\/p>\n
The event, staged by the Ontario Health Coalition (OHC) to coincide with International Day of Older Persons, marked the 10-year anniversary of the inquest into the tragic deaths of two residents at the hands of another resident with dementia at the Casa Verde LTC home. While a coroner\u2019s jury issued 85 sweeping recommendations for the operation of Ontario\u2019s LTC homes, including a minimum care standard for residents and improved staffing levels, the government has yet to implement any. Since 2001, 24 residents have died as a result of violence at the hands of fellow residents and thousands have been attacked.<\/p>\n
As the clock struck 11 a.m., representatives from sponsoring organizations, including Southlake Residential Care Village Bargaining Unit President and LTC nurse Carolyn Turner and ONA Government Relations Officer Lawrence Walter, marched in procession up University Avenue, accompanied by a lone bagpiper, to lay wreaths at a makeshift memorial in front of the Ontario Legislature.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are here to share our heartfelt sadness with the families of these residents, shame that nothing has been done, and to call for change,\u201d OHC Provincial Director Natalie Mehra told the gathering, which included NDP Health Critic France G\u00e9linas and Labour Critic Cindy Forster, a former ONA staff member.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile people entering nursing homes today are often older, more frail and subject to dementia and behavioural problems, we do not meet the standards necessary for adequate care. The government has given more money to the LTC sector, but it\u2019s mostly to renovate and build homes; it\u2019s not going to front-line care.\u201d<\/p>\n
Following the half-hour service, interspersed with haunting melodies by vocalist Heather Bambrick, observers placed pink carnations at the base of the wreathes to show their respect to the fallen and injured and to share their hope for a better future for those living and working in LTC homes.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was important for ONA members and staff to be part of this memorial for our LTC residents because if nothing is done, one day, it could happen to someone we love,\u201d concluded ONA First Vice-President Vicki McKenna. \u201cWe need change and we need it now.\u201d<\/p>\n