September 14th, 2017

We’re failing our seniors: Ontario’s New Democrats call for vote on public inquiry into systemic issues in long-term care

Today, Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath and NDP Long-Term Care and Seniors' Affairs critic Teresa Armstrong announced the NDP will introduce a motion to immediately broaden the scope of the inquiry into the long-term care homes system to include systemic issues in long-term care – including understaffing, underfunding and quality of care. “Long-term care in this province has reached a breaking point,” said Horwath. “Some families feel powerless as their parents or grandparents live in fear of resident-on-resident violence. And for many, understaffing means a lack of help, health and dignity. We’ve heard of residents left in bed for 18 hours. We’ve heard of residents who don’t get enough help for basic hygiene, or even to get to the bathroom on time. Most workers try their very best to deliver support and care, but they are run off their feet. “It doesn’t need to be this way. An expanded inquiry will give us an honest picture of systemic issues in long-term care — issues we can solve.” In August, Ontario launched a public inquiry into the long-term care specific to the conditions that allowed multiple murders to be committed by Elizabeth Wettlaufer, but the Wynne government limited scope of the inquiry so it does not include systemic issues like quality of care, funding or staffing levels. Horwath and families throughout Ontario pushed then for a broader inquiry, but their calls were ignored. Speaking at a press conference Thursday, Horwath and Armstrong were joined by families from across Ontario who continue to be let down by the system. Their loved ones can’t wait any longer for action. “Governments have ignored these issues, and ignored families, for too long,” said Armstrong. “Seniors care has deteriorated ever since the Conservatives fired 6,000 nurses and closed thousands of hospital beds, and families continue to be disappointed as conditions deteriorate further under Wynne. It’s time for a clear understanding of the issues in seniors long-term care – when we find the root causes of the problems, we can fix them.”