More Nursing Care Hours is Positive for Seniors, says ONA

TORONTO, Nov. 7, 2017 /CNW/ - The Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) believes that the provincial announcement of more hours of nursing care for our seniors and more investment in the long-term care system will make a positive difference.

"ONA has been lobbying for many, many years to increase the hours of care for our frail, elderly residents in long-term care facilities to a minimum of four hours per resident per day," notes ONA President Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN. "Many long-term care residents have more multiple, complex and chronic illnesses, and they not only need but deserve quality care. The announcement of more nursing hours for our residents and more long-term care beds, is welcome," she said.

Haslam-Stroud noted that ONA has been running a public awareness campaign, Better Care Starts Here, with a focus on the need for more nursing and front-line health-care providers in our long-term care, community care and hospital sectors (nursesknow.ona.org).

The addition of more long-term care beds is positive, she said. However, "the devil is in the details" when it comes to the announcement.

"ONA will be looking for investments in RNs and health-care professionals to staff the additional beds to ensure our patients and residents receive the quality care they need," said Haslam-Stroud.

ONA is the union representing 65,000 registered nurses and health-care professionals, as well as 16,000 nursing student affiliates, providing care in hospitals, long-term care facilities, public health, the community, clinics and industry.

Visit us at: www.ona.org; Facebook.com/OntarioNurses; www.Twitter.com/OntarioNurses

SOURCE Ontario Nurses Association

Sheree Bond: [phone], ext. 2430; cell: [phone]; [email protected]; Melanie Levenson: [phone] [email protected]

Related Links

http://www.ona.org