NDP MPP Jennie Stevens demands action from the Ford government to fix the shortage of PSWs in long-term care homes

ST. CATHARINES — NDP MPP Jennie Stevens (St. Catharines) has released a statement in response to a new report from the Ontario Health Coalition revealing that over the last decade, the number of support hours provided to residents in long-term care has gone down despite an increase in demand due to a shortage of trained personal support workers (PSWs).

“Residents in long-term care are not getting the level of care they deserve, while thousands more are left to languish on waitlists, often stuck on gurneys in overcrowded hospital hallways and emergency rooms. Doug Ford has failed to deal with the long-term care crisis left behind by the Liberals, and now his government is doing everything to make it worse.

No one should have to worry that the needs of their parent or grandparent are being be overlooked because frontline staff are overstretched and run off their feet. Our parents and grandparents need support from professional staff to protect their health, dignity and safety, and we must ensure they get that level of care.

The Ford government must get behind the Official Opposition NDP’s Bill 13, Time to Care Act, introduced by MPP Teresa Armstrong, to finally start addressing the shortage of PSWs and ensure residents get the level of support they need. This legislation would provide an average of four hours of hands-on PSW care per resident per day, and put an end to the misery faced by so many families trying to find quality long-term care for their loved ones.”