The lack of staff in nursing homes is the sore point and the problem inevitably has an impact on poor care for the elderly. This is the complaint of Andrea Horwath who today, during a conference in Ottawa, reiterated the need for an urgent increase in staff so that every resident can receive a minimum of four hours of assistance every day. A goal, which Doug Ford has assured, can be achieved in 2025.

But for Ontario’s NDP leader, as well as Long-Term Care Committee Council on Aging of Ottawa President Nancy Garrard, there’s no more time to waste. The elderly, they said, cannot wait long and need the four-hour standard of care to be “urgently legislated and fully implemented by the end of 2021”.

“Doug Ford did not invest in protecting the elderly during the pandemic and nearly 4,000 people died in the midst of a humanitarian disaster in which the elderly died of neglect. But the problems did not begin or end with Covid. Some people are left immobile until they develop painful bed, many cannot receive help to brush their teeth, go to the bathroom or have meals – Horwath said – imagine instead having enough staff in nursing homes to make sure meals are not hasty, to have a dignified help with hygiene. Imagine the peace of mind that families might have knowing that there is someone who listens, cares for and protects their parents and grandparents when they cannot be present.”

While 7,000 new PSWs have been hastily hired in British Columbia in long-term care and 10,000 in Quebec, Horwath points the finger at Ford who she says “chose not to recruit any more staff to these facilities.”

Horwath said the urgent measures that need to be taken include passing NDP legislation on the minimum four-hour standard, permanent wage improvement and benefits for long-term care providers such as PSW, a massive recruitment and training effort.

Starting on Wednesday, meanwhile, restrictions on long-term care homes in Ontario will be eased. This was the first announcement by the new Minister of Long Term Care Rod Phillips: from now on residents will be able to gather outdoors with up to 10 people and host indoor visits with up to two visitors and two caregivers.

And to personal support workers (PSW) today provincial Premier Doug Ford extended the $3-an-hour temporary wage increase until August 23. The increase was originally due to expire in March but was extended twice. “I know it’s temporary, but they’ll get a $3 an hour increase – said the premier from North Bay – I’ve always said psw are overworked, underpaid and deserve every single penny, multiplied 10 times. So the increase will remain in place.”

The increase in payroll for 158,000 PSW, who deliver publicly funded services, started in October 2020. The intention, in the midst of the pandemic, was to put a stop to the haemorrhage of personal support workers leaving long term homes and senior homes to find employment in other sectors. “The wage increase will help stabilize, attract and retain the workforce needed to provide a high level of assistance during the Covid-19 pandemic,” LTC ministry officials said. However, it remains to be seen whether Ford will keep its promise made in October to make it permanent.