Province Wide Day of Action for Long Term Care Hits Oxford County

Thursday, 8 October 2020 at 12:27

The Oxford County Health Coalition and Unifor Local 636 are taking part in the Province Wide Day of Action today and making stops at privately run LTC homes in Oxford County.

OXFORD COUNTY - The Oxford County Health Coalition and Unifor Local 636 are taking part in the Province Wide Day of Action today.

They are driving by private long term care homes in Woodstock, Ingersoll, Tavistock and Tillsonburg.

President of Local 636 Brent Thompson spoke to Heart FM after visiting the Caressant Care in Woodstock, he says we have serious problems at long term care facilities, especially the privately owned ones.

"In the first wave we had over 1,900 long term residents and staff die in the first wave. We are in the second wave as of the 28th of September and we already have 50 outbreaks at Long Term Care Homes in Ontario with 19 residents already passing away. Our members aren't being given the time to do the proper care that our residents need."

Thompson says they want to send a message to the Premier today.

"Our members are not being properly protected or paid their worth and the shareholders are still making their profits, so those are huge issues. Four hours per day, per resident, is required to have a healthy long term care and have our loved ones taken care of. Premier Ford, it's time to act, we have to act on this before we lose more staff, before we lose more residents, we have to address all of these issues and we have to get them corrected immediately."

Chair of the Oxford Health Coalition Bryan Smith says these demonstrations are happening across the Province today as a show of support.

"We are very aware that there are distinct differences in longevity of people in long term care residences if they are privately run, if they are run by a non profit or if they are run by a municipality and the last of those, is definitely the best."

Smith says they want long term care residents and staff to know that someone is looking out for them.

"We will be present outside on the street in our vehicles at the private long care term facilities so that the residents will know that we emphasize with them, so the people who work there will know that we aware of the conditions on which they work and the stress under which they work. So that people will be able to say 'alright so that is not the same as the other, that is not the extension of a community group or a non profit or a church or a charity that is actually making profit and not providing adequate care."