Nova Scotia’s failure to adequately protect nursing home residents resulted in Canada’s third worst rate of death from COVID-19, writes Richard Starr, who wonders whether ageism is a factor in both government neglect of the long term care sector and how it’s being reported.
“When this is over, we cannot listen to those right-wing voices rally against the heroes of today.,” writes Danny Cavanagh. “Our health care system needs national standards, and increased funding from the federal government. It’s time to eliminate profit from all of health care including long term care, home care, residential care and group homes. All those segments of the system must be brought under the Canada Health Act.”
What really happened at Northwood? A government that made many cuts to long-term care, and architects of nursing homes have a lot of explaining to do, writes Judy Haiven
Press release: Advocates for the Care of the Elderly (ACE) calls for more long term care staff, more inspections, better capacity to isolate, and more.
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.
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.
Media release: The ACE (Advocates for the Care of the Elderly) Team says that the McNeil government is pretending in its 2020-21 Budget that long-term care is a priority, but really only taking very limited steps to address the very real crisis in care that has been continuing for many years.
Long term care facilities in Nova Scotia have been subjected to budget cuts and government neglect. One way this manifests is in staff working shorthanded. unable to provide residents the full care they need and deserve. We talk with a long term care worker and CUPE activist who is raising the alarm.
Media release: The ACE (Advocates for the Care of the Elderly) Team welcomes new short-term staffing changes in long-term care announced by the Minister of Health and Wellness on Wednesday, but also says they fall short of making a real dent in addressing chronic understaffing.