(February 10, 2020)<\/p>\n
By: Heart FM<\/p>\n
“Every time I say the word crisis, I feel like that is not a strong enough word for what is being experienced across the Province.”<\/p>\n
WOODSTOCK – A report from the Ontario Health Coalition is going to highlight the crisis we are currently facing when it comes to a Personal Support Worker shortage in the Province.<\/p>\n
CARING IN CRISIS, Ontario\u2019s Long-Term Care PSW Shortage will be released to the public on Tuesday morning in Tillsonburg. Melissa Holden says it is not an overstatement to call the situation a crisis.<\/p>\n
“Every time I say the word crisis, I feel like that is not a strong enough word for what is being experienced across the Province. It is scary for the 80,000 people living that are living in long term care, that there simply is not enough PSW’s to staff a building. One long term care home reported that in 2018, they only had 8 days that year, where they were fully staffed.”<\/p>\n
The report is based on the input and feedback from round-table meetings held across Ontario attended by home operators and administrators, PSWs, union representatives, family councils, seniors, college staff who develop\/coordinate PSW courses, local health coalitions and other long-term care advocates. The press conference will include first-hand accounts of how the crisis is impacting each local community and their long-term care homes, and recommendations to restore stability to the vital long-term care workforce.<\/p>\n
The press conference is happening at Unifor Local 1859 in Tillsonburg at 10:00 am on Tuesday. Heart FM will be attending the press conference and have a full report on Tuesday.<\/p>\n