New Democrats will strengthen standards in long-term care homes

“Our loved ones deserve quality, dignified care, but Scott Moe’s cuts have led to overwhelmed facilities and overrun frontline staff,” said New Democratic candidate for Saskatoon Fairview Vicki Mowat. “Underfunding long-term care is bad at the best of times – during a pandemic, it’s downright dangerous, putting residents and workers at risk.” 

In 2011, the Sask. Party scrapped the standards that were in place for long-term care. New Democrats would ensure facilities establish minimum standards for ‘direct care’ hours with each resident. This will be made possible by the party’s previous commitment to hire hundreds more doctors, nurses and continuing care assistants.

“The nurses at my father’s long-term care facility did the best they could, but they were constantly understaffed and overstressed,” said Brenda Cromwell, a Saskatoon resident. “Seniors like my father deserve better. This commitment from the NDP will not only keep our loved ones safe and healthy, it will ensure they receive the respect and dignified care they deserve.” 

The Sask. Party’s cuts haven’t just made long-term care worse, they’ve made it more expensive, too. They’ve raised fees for half of all residents, some by more than $600 per month. The Sask. Party’s own reports show a system that is chronically understaffed, and families say they are worried about the health and safety of their loved ones. Scott Moe’s approach to long-term care is out of step with the concerns of resident families, workers on the frontlines and care home operators, who have all called for the reintroduction of minimum care standards.