Open letter: We would respectfully suggest that ending the chronically low staffing levels in long-term care should be considered an urgent priority, and not a topic only to be considered later.
Facing the same threat of coronavirus, a new order issued by Dr. Strang institutes more accountability for nursing homes than for institutions for people with developmental disabilities. That leaves Community Services off the hook, and that is wrong, says human rights lawyer Claire McNeil. As well, protocols around isolation of infected residents need to be revisited.
KJIPUKTUK (Halifax) – During this horrible pandemic people who live with disabilities face unique challenges. Maybe you are self isolating but you can no longer rely on your homecare worker visiting regularly. Or maybe you are institutionalized, non-verbal and no longer able to communicate with staff because a caregiver you rely on is no longer allowed to visit. We talk with Sherry Costa, provincial coordinator for the Nova Scotia League for Equal Opportunities (NSLEO) about these and other issues.
Kendall talks with William, a man who is poor and living with anxiety and depression, about both the practical and mental health challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Five unions representing health care workers providing care during the COVID-19 pandemic are calling on government and employers to sign onto a safety protocol that would ensure these frontline workers feel protected and supported during this unprecedented time.
Warren (Gus) Reed; “I wonder when Strang got hand washing religion. Four years ago, wheelchair users asked Strang to weigh in on enforcement of the province’s food safety regulation requiring “washroom facilities for staff and washroom facilities for the public available in a convenient location” in restaurants. He was indifferent:”
Letter: “We therefore urge you to mount a special initiative to increase the levels of qualified staff in all nursing homes and residential care facilities. Chronic underfunding and understaffing have been persistent problems for the long-term care sector. More than ever before, this is a time when all the necessary funding and levels of qualified staff should be in place for our long-term care facilities.”
I am writing this letter from my apartment in north end Halifax, which I haven’t left in over three weeks except for one appointment. Many days since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, my Home Care workers have cancelled their regular visits. I feel like my home has become a remote island beyond human connection, and I am a castaway.
To expect low-wage earners currently facing income-loss to pay rent is not only unreasonable, but also dangerous, writes Lisa Cameron.
COVID-19 information for undocumented migrants and people with precarious immigration status in Nova Scotia. What to do if you have symptoms, community resources, help, and much more.