MONCTON, N.B. – A new Statistics Canada study illustrates the importance of improving working conditions for home care workers, says the Coalition for Seniors and Nursing Home Residents’ Rights.
The study looked at Canadians with unmet long-term home care needs in 2012 and showed that nearly 800,000 people weren’t satisfied with their home care service.
They said their needs were only partly met or not met at all.
Cecile Cassista, the executive director for the Coalition, says part of the problem has to do with poor working conditions for home care workers.
She says New Brunswick needs a public funding program through the regional health authority.
“That’s what needs to happen in this province so that workers are paid better working conditions,” she said. “Better wages and benefits so that they can care for our seniors for those who need the care.”
Sandra Biseau is a personal care aid at Integrity Home Health Services and earns about $11. 50/hour. She says the wage isn’t high enough to keep people in the industry.
“To make sure we can provide the services they need, we need to have enough staff and it comes down to not enough staff available,” she said. “Why isn’t there enough staff? Not enough money in this industry.”
She says better wages would bring more satisfied clients.
“If you have services five days a week and everyday you have somebody new coming in you’re going to get very discouraged at the end of week,” she said.
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