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OTTAWA – June is “seniors’ month” in Ontario and long-term care (LTC) workers from five Ottawa area nursing homes are joining LTC staff from across the province, in a week of actions to highlight the real need for increased care for long-term care residents.

They want the province to make 4 hours of daily hands-on-care for long-term care residents the law and are looking for community support to make that happen.

Tomorrow, Saturday June 6 between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. registered practical nurses (RPNs), personal support workers (PSWs) and other front line LTC staff and their families representing five Ottawa area nursing homes are holding a “Walk for Seniors” outside the Madonna Care Community. The long-term care home is located at 1541 St. Joseph Boulevard in Orleans.

“In Ottawa and across the province, long-term care workers want the best for our residents in nursing homes. That means our provincial government has to give us the time to care for residents who have increasing and complex medical needs. The province needs to change legislation to make that happen,” says Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) eastern Ontario long-term care spokesperson, Joanne Waddell who will be participating in tomorrow’s walk.

Similar 4 hour hands-on-care seniors’ walks are being held between June 6 and June 13 in communities across the province.

In addition to the awareness walks, next week in many communities LTC workers will be going door-to-door or be at shopping malls and at farmers’ markets and other events asking residents to sign a petition calling for a legislated resident care standard, among other asks.

The petition which calls for the following will be presented in the Ontario Legislature by MPPs:

  • An amendment must be made to the Long-Term Care Homes Act (2007) for a legislated care standard of a minimum 4 hours per resident each day adjusted for acuity level and case mix;
  • Increased funding to achieve a staffing and care standard and tying funding to the provision of quality care and staffing levels that meet the minimum care standard of 4 hours;
  • The province must stop closing hospital beds and downloading of hospital patients with complex medical conditions to long-term care homes.

 
Check out CUPE Ontario’s Time to Care campaign for a legislated 4 hour of hands-on-care for residents

For additional information or an interview, please contact:

Stella Yeadon
​CUPE Communications
 416-559-9300

Joanne Waddell
CUPE Ontario health care workers
 613-720-1673