NDP Leader Cam Broten will hire hundreds of front-line workers to fix short staffing and improve the quality of care in seniors care homes.
The pledge to hire 400 more front-line workers is part of his plan to cut Sask. Party waste, and redirect the dollars to the services that families count on – including seniors care.
“For three years, I’ve been pushing for action on the seniors care crisis, but Mr. Wall has repeatedly dismissed the concerns families and I have raised,” said Broten. "We can’t afford four more years of this. Seniors deserve dignity and respect, and front-line workers need the time to give residents – our moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas – the compassionate, expert care they're trained to deliver.”
He will also regulate minimum care standards, which clearly lay out the basic level of care all seniors in care homes can count on. Quality-of-care indicators for each care home will be publicly reported.
“I want Saskatchewan to be a leader in Canada when it comes to providing high-quality seniors care,” said Broten. “A big part of that is putting enough workers on each shift. I’m proud of this plan, because it’s a significant step that will make a big difference for seniors in care.”
A review conducted by the independent Ombudsman in 2015 found that low staffing levels are a common concern in care facilities throughout Saskatchewan.