Welcome to Closing the Circle - Join the Conversation

Thanks for dropping by Closing the Circle, a blog designed to give you, the reader, an easy way to comment on our Full Circle series on eldercare. Each day we'll post a brief summary of the feature's stories from that day's paper, provide a link to the complete story over on our Spec.com website, and open the comments for your thoughts, stories and ideas. Just click on the "comment" button at the bottom of any story summary that you have something to say about.
Come, join the discussion.

Comments

[monkeyface]

If the staff were more interested in smoke breaks, it is probably because they needed one. Most places are understaffed for the number of residents needing long term care and the staff are run off their feet. Most are very loving and caring !

[Burke Austin]

Why are nursing homes understaffed? It costs $2000.00 a month on average for a private room. Take the Clarion for example, do the math, seven staff on day shift to care for 50 people. I am caring for my 86 year old father-in-law, his right arm is paralized from a heart attack, his left leg was amputated from an Industrial accident, he has very little vision and he has had a series of strokes that has left him with dementia. He has been living with us for six months because he couldn't go home and there were no nursing home beds available, and man has it been a challenge! I must spend about four hours a day tending to him, depending on yhe day.

[marianne.wilson]

I had a loved one (my dad) that endured a lengthy stay at a long term care facility for treatment of aphasia, and ultimately, dementia. My story is a long one that I don't need to get into here, but it's similar to the others.
What is apparently similar is all of our experiences with how the PSW's are worked off their feet in these Facilities. There is on average 12-15 patients assigned to each per shift, which is frightening, and I saw first hand how these patients are left unattended, soiled in diapers and stripped of their dignity in what are supposed to be their "golden years".

Since then, I have been doing some research and looking for supporters of an initiative that I'm hoping will change this ratio.
I work in a college environment where I sell our programs and Personal Support worker is always a tough sell. Mainly because of the low pay, for what they do. If we were to make this career more attractive, by standardizing so the wage is increased (closer to nurses salaries)and having a law passed that would cap the ratio of PSW workers to patients at 1:5, this would attract more graduates.
Did you know that there is a law in place that the ratio of day care providers to children in daycares is 1:5? I know this as my children were in licensed daycare for many years.
Why wouldn't there be a law in place that put the elderly at the same ratio with children? Their needs are similar to 2-3year olds? they need to be changed, fed and given attention regularly?

I addressed this is a letter with Dalton McGuinty and expressed my interest in getting a law passed about the above. He actually wrote me back and said I was absolutely right, and had me refferred to the Minister of Health and Welfare on starting the ball rolling on this.

I have been instructed now to have some signatures of support in a petition format to be associated with the request in procedure to have the law passed.

Anyone interested in signing the petition, please contact me.

[Burke Austin]

You are absolutely right Marianne, PSW's should be paid more for what they do. They come here to my home 24 hours a week to help me care for my sister and father-in law. I have never met one that hasn't been compassionate and caring. I have nothing but good things to say about Community Care Access Centre, they have more or less allowed me to keep my loved ones at home. However, CCAC pays the agency CanCare $25. an hour and the PSW takes $15. home and the agency gets the rest. Nice slice of the pie eh?