{"id":9273,"date":"2020-02-08T10:48:40","date_gmt":"2020-02-08T15:48:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/?p=9273"},"modified":"2020-04-19T15:18:09","modified_gmt":"2020-04-19T19:18:09","slug":"extreme-psw-shortage-burning-out-long-term-care-workers-study","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/index.php\/extreme-psw-shortage-burning-out-long-term-care-workers-study\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Extreme’ PSW shortage burning out long-term care workers: Study"},"content":{"rendered":"
(February 7, 2020)<\/header>\n
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By:\u00a0Ellwood Shreve,\u00a0The Kingston Whig-Standard<\/span><\/header>\n
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Postmedia File Photo<\/span>\u00a0JPG, NB<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Personal support workers caring for some 80,000 long-term care home residents in Ontario feel anger, frustration and burnout as they struggle to meet expectations while routinely working in understaffed facilities, a new report says.<\/p>\n

According to Caring in Crisis: Ontario\u2019s Long-Term Care PSW Shortage, commissioned for the Ontario Health Coalition by Unifor, the situation has become an epidemic.<\/p>\n

The report is based on accounts from the more than 350 people, including PSWs, nurses, family members, union members and long-term care home managers who took part in meetings held province-wide since May 2018.<\/p>\n

The first \u201ceye-opening\u201d meeting, along with stories of \u201ccrisis-level PSW shortages\u201d at facilities in southwestern Ontario, prompted the health coalition and Unifor to document the problems and propose solutions. Seven more roundtable meetings were held, including a stop in Sudbury.<\/p>\n

(A meeting to talk about the report will be held in Sudbury on Feb. 20, 10 a.m. at the Sudbury Indie Cinema Co-op, 162 Mackenzie St.)<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was total consensus that PSW shortages across Ontario in long-term care are epidemic and severe,\u201d the report states. \u201cLong-term care homes are short-staffed every day; in fact, virtually every shift, and in every area of Ontario.\u201d<\/p>\n

The report notes PSWs who shared their stories gave vivid descriptions of their difficult work conditions and the quality of care and life for residents.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn many cases, workers are angry and upset,\u201d the report states. \u201cThis mostly female, often racialized workforce feels they themselves are being abused and neglected.\u201d<\/p>\n

The report states this is due, in part, to negative media coverage about long-term care that doesn\u2019t reflect the care, generosity and compassion given to residents every day.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the same time, they are frightened of the levels of aggressive behaviours and violence that they face,\u201d the report adds. \u201cThey feel they are being held accountable for a level of care that is impossible to provide with the resources that they have been given.\u201d<\/p>\n

Accounts from managers supported the concerns have been expressed.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is not a local problem. The situation that was described to us is pressing and it requires urgent systemic action by policy-makers,\u201d the report says.<\/p>\n

Long-term care homes report working short one to two PSWs on nearly all shifts, which means homes can be short five to 10 PSWs in every 24 hours. Some are short 20 to 50 PSWs.<\/p>\n

Weekends, summertime and less-appealing shifts can sometimes leave homes operating with double the shortage of PSWs.<\/p>\n

Pay that is barely above minimum wage, with considerably heavier workloads than jobs with comparable wages, is driving PSWs to quit to work in retail or restaurants. Some PSWs opt to work in less onerous housekeeping positions at the same home.<\/p>\n

PSW jobs in hospitals and school boards, with better pay and working conditions, also take away from the already too-small pool of available workers.<\/p>\n

Staff shortages mean vacation time is often denied, resulting in PSWs working double shifts to cover for staff calling in sick, which has increased their own sick time and injuries.<\/p>\n

Long-term care injury rates are high as is the turnover, particularly with young PSWs.<\/p>\n

Burnout is a major issue, which is compounded by \u201ccompassion fatigue\u201d frequently described as a problem among staff having to cope with grief as residents die, high expectations from families, management and government, stressful workloads and inadequate (or nonexistent) emotional support.<\/p>\n

Compounding PSW shortages is the increase in care for many residents who are medically complex and frail.<\/p>\n

Many residents require peritoneal dialysis, wound treatments, palliative care, post-operative care, pain management and suctioning, among other types of care.<\/p>\n

Complex care is being provided in environments not physically designed to provide it with insufficient numbers of nursing and PSW staff.<\/p>\n

The report recommends<\/strong>:<\/p>\n