Significant cuts to care hours for residents at Lindsay’s Frost Manor are part of a bigger crisis facing long-term care in Ontario, say front line staff who have launched a community campaign to get the hours restored.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) which represents the registered practical nurses (RPNs), personal support workers (PSWs), dietary and activation, laundry and housekeeping staff at Frost Manor is holding a media conference on Tuesday, September 9, 2014, at 12:00 Noon at the Royal Canadian Legion (12 York Street North, Lindsay) to outline the local campaign.
A poignant video (called “Time to Care”) featuring the daughter of a Long-Term Care (LTC) resident and heartfelt accounts from PSWs and RPNs about the challenges they face providing quality care to residents under crushing workloads and severe understaffing, will be screened for reporters during the media conference.
A community meeting has also been scheduled for the next day (Wednesday, September 10, 2014) between 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the York Street North Legion. Invitations to attend the public meeting have been sent to local and provincial political leaders.
“Communities like Lindsay need to work together to advocate for better care on behalf of nursing home residents, regardless of our political stripes. It is the ethical and right thing to do,” says Bruce MacKay, president of CUPE 2225. MacKay is optimistic that area politicians will attend the meeting and join with Frost Manor front line staff and residents’ families to get the care hours restored.
CUPE Ontario and many community partners have consistently urged the province to legislate a daily care standard for residents of LTC homes. As part of its “Time to Care” campaign, CUPE is advocating for a minimum daily four hour care standard.
For more information about CUPE Ontario’s “Time to Care” campaign, please go to: Time to care
For more information please contact:
Stella Yeadon, CUPE Communications
416-559-9300