Unifor applauds Ontario's announcement to mandate four hours daily care in long term care
TORONTO, Nov. 7, 2017 /CNW/ - Unifor is supporting today's announcement by the Ontario government which would see an increase of 5,000 new beds and four hours of daily care in long term care, in addition to other improvements for seniors.
The new plan 'Aging with Confidence: Ontario's Action Plan for Seniors' was announced this morning by the Premier.
"This news is years in the making," said Unifor Ontario Regional Director Naureen Rizvi. "Families, advocates and front line workers have been pushing for these changes for a very long time and now the government has finally recognized the shortcomings of our long term care system. We could not be more thrilled that Ontario seniors will soon get the care they deserve."
Unifor is organizing a Queen's Park lobby day on December 4 with long term care workers, which will still go ahead. The union has been reaching out to all parties about the importance of improving long term care and will now turn its attention to implementation.
"We have a crisis in long term care – it is urgent that these changes be implemented quickly and with measures built in for accountability and enforcement," said Assistant to the President Katha Fortier, RPN. "Long term care home operators must be held responsible for upholding standards of care – including four hours of care a day, per resident."
The union is urging the Ontario government to ensure long term care workers are consulted on the implementation and logistics of the new regulations.
"Long term care workers know the shortcomings of the system and are a vital resource in making improvements to best serve aging residents," said Fortier.
SOURCE Unifor
Shannon Devine, Unifor Communications, Cell: 416-302-1699 or email [email protected]
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