Long-Term Care Legislation Must Include Staffing and Care Standards
17 January 2007 -- Front-line registered nurses (RNs) believe the government's new Long-Term Care Act must include minimum staffing levels to improve resident care and prevent another tragedy like the Casa Verde nursing home murders.Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) President Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN, made a presentation to the Standing Committee on Bill 140 on January 17 at Queen's Park recommending the government amend the bill to add minimum staffing standards and other provisions to improve care.
"Legislating minimum staffing standards will do a great deal to improve care for residents, many of whom are in need of the complex nursing care provided by RN skills," says Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN, President of ONA.
Registered nurses working in long-term care facilities face horrendous workloads, injury and incidents of workplace violence. In some facilities, one RN is responsible for the care of 200 or more residents. Nursing home safety remains a concern for ONA members - staffing level improvements were one of 85 recommendations made by a coroner's jury to prevent incidents of violence by cognitively impaired seniors. Two residents at Toronto-area Casa Verde were beaten to death by such a cognitively impaired resident.
"Legislating minimum staffing standards would also improve staff safety and working conditions in nursing homes," notes Haslam-Stroud. "This would go a long way in attracting RNs to a career in this health-care sector, which should be a priority as the Ontario nursing shortage worsens."
The entire submission is available for download here.
Ontario Health Coalition's Stand on Long-Term Care
The Ontario Health Coalition also presented a submission to the government about long-term care. They provide in-depth information on their website.