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I'm trying to find the proper long term care for my wife, who is currently recovering from multiple strokes. I have been paying out of pocket for the past 2 years.

The care seniors receive depends on luck. They are not all the same. my mother was lucky but where she started stunk of urine

This has been going on for decades. There is more than enough blame to go around. I spent 34 years as a firefighter responding to medical calls in LTC homes. Many times at 3 AM there was no staf to unlock doors to get in, patients lying in cold urine soaked beds and patients obviously dead for some time. Enough with thoughts and prayers! Lets see some action.

Working short staffed more often staff stressed out

Younger Sister in mixed govt & private. 1.Never saw the 1 registered nurse in almost 10 yrs 2.Staff indifferent 3.Bullying by supervisors towards residents 4.Staff refusing to follow doctors orders 5.Food terrible 6.Bldg maintenance neglected or not DONE due to only 1 person. 7.Min. to non existent stimulation for residents 8.Discouraged residents from having self esteem 9.Did not provide good fire alarm exercises appropriately 10.People moved their parents out of inst. due to neglect 11.Indifferent care for alzheimer /dementia/ MS persons in advanced care. 12.Intimidated family mbrs who voiced problems & never fixed them.

Family member was in long term care staff never knew where he was and staff continued to steal anything of value, always in the same clothes not a good experience

For decades I've known they were understaffed and underfunded. Everyone knows. Now, with the pandemic, that stone has been turned over and it can't be ignored any more. When you put profit in health care, you put money before health. For-profit has no place in health care for elderly and vulnerable people. Big companies who don't pay the taxes they should because of loopholes (created by big companies with governments) should be doing more. My mother is elderly and I cannot see putting her in one of those facilities. But I don't live in the same province as her, so I'm limited with what I can do. The system MUST change.

Retirement homes need to be looked at more closely. The food the senoir resident are being served is inadequate most days, seniors don‚Äôt eat because they do not like the food and there are no alternatives for them. Also the care they are provided is not always the most attentive. More facilities need to be ran by city not privatised cause it gives the owner of those facility too much freedom and the relative and senoir residents have no one to hear them out, no leg to stand on.

I am a front line worker in a COVID free retirement residence. I am responsible for screening all incoming staff and visitors that enter our establishment. 1. It saddens me that we have not created a mask which will enable our elderly and hearing impaired residents to read our lips. Everyday we go to work with an intent to help and protect them and we are unable to clearly communicate because they cannot read our lips and it is frustrating for our residents. 2. Lack of "dedicated" staffing is an issue as I feel the residents could benefits from more one on one care.

My brother in law is in a long-term care. He is paralyzed. I find that the staff is not trained for the need of each individual. He is paralyzed..... not crazy. They put him in his chair at the end of the bed and the bell is at the head of the bed. If he needs to go to be bathroom, he calls his wife at home so she can call the front desk for help. His chair has a head rest and most of the time when we visit him it is not set properly so his head is bending forward and he cannot sit up by himself. The food is not very good. What you see on the menu is not what you get. My friend is in a home care residence. The food is not good (powdered milk???) and they were recently told that they cannot have a second serving so if you are still hungry... to bad. The manager of the place has all kind of jobs (garbage, pills, cook, etc..) so she is over worked and cannot be there to manage. Both places are privately owned so there is no one set of rules. Whatever the owner says today might not be what goes tomorrow so it creates frustration between workers and residents. Workers in both residences are back stabbing each other and the morale is very low (staff and residents). According to me if somebody wants to own a senior residence or long term care the house should be managed by two health care workers according to the rules outlined by the government and those workers should have motivation skill to ensure the workers and the residents are happy. Inspections should be done without the house knowing that the inspectors are coming and should go over at meal time and taste the food that they give to the residents. According to me privately owned residences should not exist but can the government take over??? I worked for the government for 39 years and with what is going on in those residences now, I am looking at the assisted suicide rules because there is no way I want to go to one of those residences. What I really don't understand is how come in 2020 those residences don't have phone, cable and internet. We can go to any motel/hotel around the world and it is included with your room. I had a run in with the owner of the place where my friend is. My friend cannot afford phone/internet/cable so I am paying for it. Her family is in Connecticut USA, New Brunswick and her son in Calgary. That is the only way to keep in touch with them. The owner could not be bothered to get her those things even after I told her that the cable company could have a rebate for her residents. So I got her what she needed the $147.00 a month. (After everything is paid she has $149.99 to live on for the month this is why she cannot afford it). After everything was done the owner told my friend that she still has to pay $30.00 for cable TV because she was paying the cable company. I tried to reason with her because both of us were paying for the cable. She was not able to help me clear the problem she was just going to call the company and cut my friends cable service all together if we did not pay. I have no patient with controlling people so we pay the $30.00 for a service that I already pay. I hope to see changes in the near future for both my brother in law and for my friends sake. Thank you for asking our opinion.

My mom spent two weeks in one and had to be removed. They did not shower her when they were suppose to and she went without meals and no one check on her

I live in a small town hit by COVID-19 in its long term care home. It was devastating.

nursing homes and long term care shoould come under the Canada Health Act. Buildings could be privately owned but not the programme. All older building should be brought up to modern standards or repurposed.

I‚Äôm an ms patient who could use ongoing assistance but get none.

My mother died from a burst bowel because of a lack of monitoring and care. Not enough staff, underpaid, not trained well enough.

My father has all his mind but unfortunately, cannot stand or walk anymore. No residence exists for my dad to stay with my mom, married for 54 years, due to him requiring more assistance. My mom kept him for 53 years with no assistance nd at no cost recovery for equipment etc. When he stopped walking and then standing, we tried to keep him but unfortunately we could only get 25 hours a week from assistance program, clearly not sufficient. He had a brain anerisim zt the age of 23 and paralysed on the left side, 9 days after. My mom had to quit university and reorganized her life to take care of my dad and me 2 year old at the time. She never quite and always pushed him to developped and make the best he could with what he was facing. He was not able to co due to his co dition but became someone that gave all his life to others through volunteer organisation and to other people in needs. Now being paralysed on the left side and hardly able to move or use is right side. He his no longer able to livewith us even if he is still alert and not suffering of any dementia, etc. We feel likehe has been placed in an institutio with no possibility to continue to live his quite and regular life with the people and wife he adores. They get him up in the morning between 6 and 8 a.m. and he spends all day in his wheelchair. It is important to note that he can't lift his bum or repositionned himself has he has no strenght. Only once he is put in bed betwee 6:30 to 9 p.m. can he be in a different position. In addition 3 times out of 4 they are not posotioning his chair backward to give him a rwlief or to even sleep with his head in a relax position, he then sleeps with his head and boby and his wheelchair table. When they put him to bed if they put him in a position no matter if it is correctly or not he his unable to move and will remain this way all night. It would be nice to have someone to change him position during the night. Their his a button to call for assistance but it is not available to him 90% of the time because he is unableto roll his wheelchair to reach it during the day or night when they set him in the residence or in his room. If they do not put water on his chair or close to he will spend time without a drink or other such as kleenex, etc has he is unable to get them. Sometimes he ask to go to washroom or for the pee pot and they tell him just do in your diaper...remember he still has is mind...not pleasant or correct. Even at night if he askedto be changed most of the time they will tell him to go back to bed. If it is around a meal period even if its fora dump they will tell him do i your diaper or wait after meal.. Try to eat your meal which is 75% disgusting whike you are seating in a dirty diaper. If he does not eat his meal and ask to get someting later they do not autorised since they do not want them to possibly choke on food. So they rather have them go hungrey or go to bed hungrey.... The chair has special pading for his legs to not have sores but most of the time it is not well equipped. It is very sad that someone that even if he was handicaped and gave his life to helping others get that kind of assistance and care. I pray a lot of time that something will change to better care and other centres that will accomodate couples even if both dont require long term care. I could go on and on and on, but i think that you get the idea.

I worked at CMHCfor 31 years. It doesn't take too much cutting of expenses to turn a reasonably managed project into a horror story like we have seen.

I have been frustrated by short staffing, difficulties communicating with staff, very poor food quality.

My wife and I have been fortunate enough to help all four of our parents go through their final days of life. None of them were pretty but they all had the financial ability to ensure that they got the best assistance money could provide. We did at one point consider moving my widowed mother nearer to us but the only option would have been a nursing home. Her health failed significantly before we moved her but I was totally disheartened by the poor and old choices of assisted care nursing homes that were available. Also that there were huge waiting lists and more importantly that we had very little say in which facility she might end up in. It was and still is sad that after having very productive lives and worked their way up to be very successful people the end options were and still are pathetic. It is unfortunate to say that years of chronic underfunding and now Covid have forced this issue to the front page, but we are not hopeful that with the money being given away during this pandemic that politicians will be true to their word to improve the quality of live for seniors when the heat of the current moment cools off.

Our mother was a resident of ALMONTE Country Haven LTC in ALMONTE Ontario. It is one of the top homes for COVID 19 deaths. 30 of the 82 residents died of COVID 19. Our mother died April 28th and was negative for the virus but we feel the lack of cognitive stimulation and the lack of having us with her to help her with drinks and snacks played a role in her quick decline. She was talking and engaged at the beginning of the lockdown and we saw her withdraw and she became less interactive less responsive and she just faded away-alone -only the LTC staff with her in her final moments. It was/is heartbreaking for us. The home didn‚Äôt cohort at the beginning. We wrote letters to everyone at all levels of government. Weeks before the military were called into help my family were making calls for the military to assist in this home. Nothing was done. They still have 2 positive cases we know of. This is an OMNI home-for profit. The system is flawed. Many studies have been done into LTC and action needs to be taken to address the profits shareholders are making off the backs of our most vulnerable in LTC. Action is needed to increase the wage of the workers. Action must be taken to regulate PSW‚Äôs. Action needs to be taken now to do unannounced inspections if every LTC facility. I refuse to call them homes. Action needs to be taken to move health out of partisan politics so we aren‚Äôt at the mercy of government changes which can ultimately halt and negatively impact the health and well-being. Enough is enough. We know what needs to be done. Do the right thing.

Still waiting for home care for my mother, who has dementia. We have paid for foot care before the shut down. She lives in my home.

I recognize that people immediately look to the for-profit element as the root cause of the problem, but I believe this is a hasty determination without proper analysis. There are bright spots in the for-profit LTC industry - homes who have a balanced approach to managing operations, managing patient care, creating a safe and cohesive work environment, while turning a profit. If we can look to those bright spots and establish enforceable standards and controls across the industry, our seniors would have the desirable quality of life that they deserve.

understaffed, poor quality of food

Where were you when Ms wynne was ignoring LTC and homemakers? The current LTC fiasco has been years in the making. Why has no one examined the low end residential homes? They are even worse than LTC. Their standard of care makes LTC look palatial.

Home nursing for both my child and husband during their cancer fight

The long-term care centre my grandparents live in is wonderful. It saddens me that others do no receive the same excellent care. The biggest complaint they have is the food and I know that is not the same for many others as I have heard sad stories from my friends.

Hearing about on radio and t.v. as well as hearing from friends and acquaintances

Relatives in care.

The report that the military produced about the problems in ltc is accurate. Additionally too many workers in that field should not be caregivers, lack empathy lack social skills don‚Äôt know how to cook don‚Äôt know how to clean

The paradigm for long term care must be revisited . I believe it should a governmental priority , and it should be available to all . But we have seen the neglect that has brought us to this present crisis . Other countries have much better models to work with . Maybe assisted living should be given top priority before having to go into a nursing home .

I worked briefly in LTC as a nursing student on nights. Every morning it was up to me to get residents up early, before the sun even rose, wash them up, clothe them and bring them to the dining room, all before 7am...and I'd have an entire wing of residents to myself -- it was exhausting, dangerous, and disheartening. I would barely have a conversation with residents because I just didn't have the time.

Both my parents were at the Rideau Pearly in Ottawa. Their care was excellent. I have visited other homes in Ottawa that I felt I would not want my parents at. You walk in the door and the first thing you smell is urine, disgusting! Another place everyone was 4 to a room - pretty scary inf someone gets infected. At that facility there was nothing to do all day except sit in a huge common area and watch T.V. or be bored out of their minds. That was depressing.

My mother passed in long term care, she had the ability to pay for extas, thankfully. I did witness many who did not have this luxury and it was heartbreaking

If you have the cash everything is fine and there is not any bargains out there. Also, you get what you pay for; so be prepared to see what your dollar is worth in this market place.

There is no privacy nor are residents kept clean. The food is cheap and appalling and offers little choice and small quantities.

My mom was in a private ltc. She was prescribed meds by a geriatric specialist for Lewy-Body. The resident Dr took her off it without telling us. I paid an unexpected visit only to find her roommate screaming at mom. She had become very agitated. As a result, we moved mom to a private room. The Dr was the biggest problem there.

My Mother lives in long term care and on several occasions I have had to have discussions about her personal care. These homes are under staffed. The amount of time that is spent taking caring of each person is limited which means patients receive poor care.

I worked in a long term care facility while I was in high school... in kitchen & in activations. My mother was in a retirement residence until her death- was a private residence-beautiful and they treat their residents very well there. The place I worked at I. High school was ok... good people but staff were over worked.. not enough time for each residents care. Also OSW‚Äôs are not paid the best for what they do. It‚Äôs a job where you give yourself emotionally to the residents as often family members live far away. The elderly need patience and time. And they deserve it.

Just horrified by recent newsfeeds

I was a member of LTC Board in northern Ontario in the 90's...and at that time, my mother was a resident in a LTC facility..I was instrumental in starting the Residents Council where she was...I also saw whatr happened in the Common Sense Revolution when Mike Harris chose to privitatize LTC ..where our tax payer dollars was funding the care of our most vulnerable people...to make sure that the for profit companies were standing to make a large financial profit..I have been beating this drum for so long...but it took a virus outbreak to show how badly things were...so many deaths...completely avoidable..the suffering..the neglect...this has to stop !!

My Father was in a long term care facility they were short staffed. Some were great and others not I was able to go in often to make sure everything was going smoothly. I witnessed a few residents who had to wait for some time to be tended to ie needed to be cleaned up after an accident, or need help in general.

My mother is in a care home during covid where 20% of the patients died. The staff act as though they own your loved one and give you no information about what's going on.theyre locked in their room 24/7 like animals..this letter could be 5 pages long.its horrific that the govt. has allowed these places to do this to our seniors..and that the minister of long term care has not been fired..is that not her only job? To oversee long term care?? Shameful.and how does she and her staff sleep at night?

For a few years I worked at minimum wage as a companion to someone in a nursing home. My job was to keep her entertained, make sure she was ok to get to bed after getting her beds, and brush her dentures. The staff nurse would

Past LTC and HC RN here. HCA daily OT as much as double shifts daily. Same for nurses. Clients unwashed, unturned, fed cold food lying or semi-reclined in bed, uneaten food trays removed, toileting not done, not bathed for a week or more, self catheters reused, glasses and hearing aids lost or forgotten, clothes on backwards or inside out, spiritual needs neglected, frequent falls and injuries, call bells and cries for help unanswered, lack of client privacy, all due to time constraints. Nurses unable to complete treatments like wound care, nebulizers, foot care, vital signs, PRN pain meds, even regular meds due to time constraints. Some bedtime sedatives given as early as 6PM in order to get last one done by 10PM. insufficient time for charting, so goes undone. Insufficient time for family calls to update family of changes. Never enough time for job satisfaction due to time constraints.

My mother died of old age and dementia in a nursing home in 2011. There were never enough staff so I spent a small fortune having sitters with her to try and prevent her from getting out of bed and falling.

My Dad caught CoVID at Forest Heights Revera in Kitchener. He had relatively mild symptoms but he lost friends who did not survive. Incredible though it may seem, Forest Heights is better than the previous home. In 2017, my brother discovered gangrene in his feet that had never been disclosed to anyone in our family. My brother removed Dad and got him into a hospital where he had a toe amputated. Then Dad was a "bed blocker" for 18 months while he waited for a spot to open up. My mother lives independently in Ottawa. Her health is quite frail, though. She has been on the waiting list for subsidized senior's accommodation at Unitarian House for over 10 years. She needs supplemental oxygen but her doctor told her on Monday that it's not available.

I've worked for two LTC units attatched to the hospitals. Both were well run but still one on one time was limited

My Mom is a resident in a LTC facility in Perth, Lanark Lodge. It is funded by the County of Lanark. The staff there are amazing. I have been so impressed with their performance during this pandemic outbreak. However, I must say that in the 5 years my Mom has lived there, I have seen some decrease in the quality of care as the Lodge struggles to survive with the funding they are given. There have been cuts that affect the quality of life for residents.

My husband was a scientist who needed to go to a LTC facility. What I have observed 1. The staff are very caring but there is no way they can provide the care the residents require due to the level of care that the residents need. Just because they don‚Äôt require ‚Äúactive medical treatment‚Äù does not mean they don‚Äôt require detailed nursing care. The care is provided around the staff being able to give care not based on patient needs . 2. The hours of care per resident at the moment cannot meet the physical, psychological, stimulation through activities appropriate for each resident. 3. I am very fortunate to have my husband in a very good facility (gov. run) but besides the areas I have pointed out, there has not been enough stimulation on a 1-1 basis. It is impossible with the present staffing. There has been marked regression because of this. His response is so different when someone sits with him and talks about current affairs etc,

My mother has dementia and is in LTC in Lanark County. I have noticed a consistent lack of adequate staffing and am very concerned. My mothers' residence provides good care and has done an exemplary job in keeping the Lodge free of COVID-19. However, she has "escaped her locked unit" 4 times over the past 5 years, despite wearing a roam alert bracelet - once she was able to get outside in November! Thankfully, she was cold and came back! She has been involved in numerous physical altercations and has sustained injuries that have required medical attention for cuts and bruises. I feel that these occurrences happen because of a lack of staff supervision and I am very grateful that she was not severely injured. I have witnessed "alarm fatigue", especially on special occasion days like Christmas etc., when there is a "skeleton" staff present. Most of my mother's personal belongings have disappeared from her room, despite being labelled and I have experienced a complacent attitude when asked about it. In my opinion, my mother has lost her independence and control of her life - to further have to endure her special, personal belongings being taken away from her adds insult to injury! (items such as fake plants, costume jewelry, afghans that she made, etc....) These possessions do not carry monetary value, but do give her pleasure and I find it unacceptable and very frustrating that she cannot have these items as a constant in her diminished reality. I have given up on bringing such items/gifts to her room for her to enjoy as they simply "disappear". It's not fair! In my opinion, this can easily be mitigated with better staffing ratios and a desire to see that the resident's dignity, and respect for their personal possessions is made a priority!

reviewed homes for my father but he died in hospital before we picked one

Management in ltc is the problem CEO is the problem Ministry is the problem. That is where it needs to be fixed We complain n report n always for decades falls on deaf ears Now that military worked in ltc due to COVID people r now gonna listen. As a psw I‚Äôm outraged. My voice should have been heard.

It is a long story ..home care , since I started with it to look after my mother with me keeping her home in 2000,and then with me needing it in 2006 , has become much less helpful and caring ..in the NURSING Home for 6 months amongst many complaints, there was a short staff problem regularly, and Physiotherapy was close to nonexistent , even though I needed it daily ..not even a heating pad was ordered..but staff would sneak one to me ...administration was terrible, thinking mostly of the bottom line ..the PSW‚Äôs were amazing to the patients, but totally disrespected by administration ..I have to say that it was more of a waiting house than nursing home ..privately owned is so, so not appropriate ..luckily, I could speak for myself ..but most cannot

Grandmother was in private home and received excellent care. Aunt was in long term care and she received good care. My son and mother have volunteered in long term care home. My mother, 85 years old, is still at home alone with support from me. Should anything happen that she can no longer be at home I will have to research a place for her.

My mother had a number of falls, they put mats around her bed so she wouldn't hurt herself. They tied her in the wheelchair, she sat for hours by herself. She shared a room and bathroom. It was clean but old and they tried their best to watch after her. If family didn't come in there was not time to look after all the residents.

service has been spotty, with may missed appointments and rigidity of rules. Workers were very helpful.

I worked for 5 years as a PSW in LTC (2005-2010). While I loved working with the residents, the workloads were very heavy (approximately 9 high-need residents per PSW) and I never felt as though each person was receiving the care they deserved. Funding formulas (15 or 30 min per resident for morning care) were usually 6 months behind the residents' last assessments, so there was usually only time to quickly sponge bath, toilet and dress a resident. Oral care, skin care and others, as well as meal times, toileting, restraint checks and hydration were compromised, in some cases severely, because of inadequate staffing. I came home most days and cried in the shower from exhaustion and depression, because, as a PSW, you have no ability to change things within the system. (I ended up going back to school to become a registered nurse, and am currently studying part-time.) I am horrified and angry that those who do have authority (Ministry of Health and LTC, companies, managers, and politicians) are avoiding their responsibility in creating these abhorrent conditions. There must be consequences for what amounts to manslaughter and wilful neglect on the part of those responsible for funding, regulations, inspections and oversight.

I have been a PSW for 20 years working in LTC , we work short staffed basically everyday , but a are still expected to get everything done , there is no time to spend with residents one on one , You rush in rush out on to next resident ,the funding formula is a joke ,, based on charting from prior year , most of those residents are gone and new ones moved in ,, LTC iS in dire need of attention no one is taking PSW course anymore because they don't get paid nearly enough for the workload we are expected to do ,

In consulting, I was constantly surprised by the lack of occupational health & safety compared to private industrial sector. It was below even healthcare. If an employer isn‚Äôt implementing OHS of employees, it is apparent that other things are lacking (and studies have demonstrated this). Also the low ratio of paid caregiver (PSW or RPN or RN) to resident was shocking.

my late mother's care home understaffed, violent patients amongst the others

All of my experience is with Quebec Long Term Care. I sat on the Residents committee for 3 years in Montreal on the provincial anglophone Committee

Low staffing numbers on most shifts. The pay for Registered Practical Nurses and Personal Support workers in well below the pay in a hospital setting. The work load for both of these classifications is very heavy. RPNs give medications, do dressings, oxygen, falls, assessments for up to 40 or more residents on a shift. No time for coffee breaks as the workload is to heavy.

My mother was in a LTC home for over 3 years. She received very good care (pre-Covid, luckily) but I am horrified at what I have seen on television lately

I have THE best PSW in Ontario. My local LHIN contracts with St. Elizabeth in Kingston. My incredible PSW works like a dog, does much more than required, with a smile always, for far, FAR TOO LITTLE pay. And, because her income is capped, she received only $2/hour more when the Feds gave $5 two years ago. UNFAIR! She truly deserves far, FAR more! The same is tru for PSWs in LTC homes. The stories are heartbreaking.

In my former work, I was in several LTC homes and was dismayed that there were insufficient staff to meet the needs of the residents. I saw caring care-givers. I know that the nurses I represented often worked hours without pay because of insufficient staff. On another note, my mother was a volunteer in a municipal home for the aged - one that was well run with lots of community support. However, she made me promise to never put her in a home. From that I concluded there must be a better way to care for the elderly. I don't know the answer but would look to successes elsewhere to see if they could work here.

Underpaid and overworked staff.

My brother resides at Carlingview Manor, which is a For-Profit LTC home in Ottawa. It has the most cases/deaths in Eastern Ontario and needs government intervention immediately as the crisis due to COVID is critical. Even before COVID, conditions in this home were unacceptable.

Waiting to get in... delayed due to Covid 19

Only experience already stated. My aunt was kept a prisoner in her own home by her nephew who had power of attorney, drained her finances and refused to find her the help she needed. He used the legal system to shut me out of her life (she had been a parent to me when I was orphaned at 13, we maintained a loving relationship and she was Grandma to my children.) Despite my efforts to seek help her through the Ministry, my pleas went unheeded, and she passed away three months after finally being admitted to a facility. She was emotionally manipulated and the system failed her, even homecare. It went on from 1998 to her passing in December 2004. She had had enough finances at the beginning to afford quality care, but died essentially penniless due to nephew's fraud. The system completely failed her. And me.

The care my Dad receives in his for profit retirement home has been adequate, but is expensive. The service he receives is never outstanding in how I would like to see it. I am afraid to think how it will be for me a few more years down the road, when I need long term care.

The lack of staffing (specifically) PSW's is leading to the lack of good care in nursing homes. I worked as a PSW for 7 years, and during that time, the time allotted to perform personal care to residents was nowhere near sufficient. Residents were not treated properly, and the care given was most certainly not good because of time restraints. In fact because of this I consider the residents were abused. And in turn, the PSW's are abused, as the work load is so high that it is impossible to feel good about feeling that you are actually helping the residents. In order to serve the residents properly, the ratio of PSW' to residents needs to significantly increase, urgently.

I only know what I hear, but I have been hearing this for years. Conditions are terrible, there are not enough people working there to properly care for our elders.

THE WHOLE CULTURE NEEDS TO CHANGE. THE BRIGHTEST AND THE BEST HEALTH CARE WORKERS NEED TO BE ENCOURAGED TO WORK IN LTC NOT JUST BE SURGEONS AND EMERGENCY ROOM NURSES. PSW'S NEED TO BE REGULATED SO THEY ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR PRACTICE HIRED FULL TIME AND GIVEN A DECENT WAGE

My Mother who is now deceased was a resident of a long term care home for four years. Myself and my siblings had to be at the home every day to ensure my Mother received minimum care. Many days we would arrive and she was sitting in feces. It would take the staff hours to answer bells. I do not blame this on staff, as they were overwhelmed. Too many residents, not enough staff. When staff called in sick, no one replaced them. Privatized long term care is not an option if you want quality.

My now deceased Mother in law was in 2 homes. One private, one public. Private was pretty good, public was not. But, I think we need to make the standards apply across the board, tough oversight and publicly funded.

I received home care after an accident from the Victorian Order of Nurses. It was more than satisfactory.

i look after my mother and roomare works 4 longterm care

My Dad has been in long term care since August 2017. He has Dementia! The things I have noticed are not enough staff on duty, sometimes not even getting the two required baths a week, he's not shaved or nails cut. Sometimes his dentures have been so black I have not been able to completely get them clean. Before covid 19 I would visit Dad once a week, and spend 2 to 3 hrs as I live 50 min away. I would spend my time with him, shaving him, doing his finger nails and cleaning his dentures! I also would tidy and clean his room. Sometimes the The staff there are good, just not enough of them for proper care. Staff are run off their feet, I hate to even ask a question about my Dad as I might keep them from getting another resident to the bathroom! My Dad's feet swell so bad and I have to ask to please put him in his lazy boy chair to get his feet up! They should know to do this! I worked with folks with disabilities and they were bathed every day or in the least every other day! The staff resident ratio was so much better! Homes for people with disabilities are non profit! I think this makes me the most upset is that someone is making money off of my Dad and hes not receiving good care! My Dad pays almost $2800 a month for his care. My Dad was military and deserves better!

My grandparents have just moved into a long-term care home this year, it's a new construction, and within a year of them moving in, half of the building flooded. Fortunately not their bit, but almost all of the residents were in that wing, as it was the first one opened

Father (97) was in Wedgewood retirement home in Brockville. The promise was "cradle to grave" care. WW sold by private owner to Chartwell resulting in dramatic reduction in quality of care. Dad hospitalized for UTI. Hospital had to keep my father in a "complex care" ward because Wedgewood management refused to allow him to return. (Invoked the 2-person lift rule in his lease.) In total compliance with CCAC rules dad was on waiting list (average 3-year) for an LTC home in Brockville area. He died (Mar 2017) in Brockville General.

Typical senario- they fall fracture a hip, 2 old 4 repair, lie in bed + die

I have visited my sister in long term care in Cleveland. This has made me aware of how much care is required and how complicated it is to give thorough adequate care.

In the Sars outbreak my Mom was put in hospital with dimentia, I went with my step-father to help pick a home for her. I cried everynite, it was disgusting, 4 to a room, halls were full of people strapped to chairs, crying. it stunk really bad. Luckily the gov. had the hospitals emptied for Sars and she went to a new home in a private room. Great place, BUT, I was called everyday to go there as she was dying, I got worn out after weeks of this and was not there when she passed. I never want to go to a home,

My grandfather was in a long term care home when I was a child (in the 90s). He died because he had a bad cold, which later developed to pneumonia. They did nothing to help him until he was obviously dying, then shipped him to the hospital where he died within minutes of arrival. Negligent care has been happening for far too long in these facilities and something must be done.

As I said my 96 yr old mother lives at The Riverine in Napanee, ON. It is privately owned and operated and is awesome not like what I have seen on the news. They have been in lockdown since a week before anything was locked down. Mom is bored but happy she is safe. I guess my question is why did these other homes not lockdown too? Why did they allow people to continue to visit with no vetting? Why did the Ontario government give the health care workers at these homes a $4.00 an hour raise when many of them ran away leaving the very people they were hired to protect die? I think they should have been charged! Why aren't all these homes run like The Riverine?

Some residents complained staff were stealing their personal property. Some complained that they were awakened before sunrise for a bath before dayshift arrived. The palliative care on the second floor of the house had residents with huge bed sores. There was no elevator in the house that was the nursing home. Residents had to be able to use stairs. The RN administrator was very business minded.

I have had to assist relatives with feeding, dressing and other basic functions while in an LTC facility.

My grandparents were well-cared-for in the public system in the 1970s. I assisted my parents in their own home in the 1990s. I am concerned to see how the system has deteriorated. I have no clear idea what will happen to my husband or me because we have little in the way of resources given the multiple recessions we have endured. We are in our mid- to late-70s and are still minimally self-employed with a disabled adult son living with us. Another disabled son with a large family is surviving on ODSP. It is not only the care for the aged that is lacking in Ontario or in Canada; a guaranteed annual income would make a huge difference in how young people deal with the lack of employment. Our disabled sons work hard at gardening, making maple syrup, sometimes providing firewood, etc. but it's impossible to grow in that kind of subsistence economy. Thanks for asking!

My mother had home care while she lived with me and it was very helpful if minimal. I had removed her from long term care because she hated it. My brother has to go into a long term care home and is on the list for 2 not for profit homes and one very small for profit because it is so close to a family member.

Have had grandmother, grandfather, mother all in-laws in homes.

I have blood work done in my home but I must pay for each visit.

Hello my husband was in a nursing home i was discussed what i seen in there I would never put a older person into a home that wasnt clean or up to standard the people in the long term home they pay alot of money a they get treded tearable a some of them dont even get wash a they sleep in a mess bed thxs Judy Pilz

Mother well-cared for in a public LTC

I have only knowledge of what I have seen on the news , I am disgusted that we have allowed our seniors to be monetized by these disgusting for profit human warehouses.

I have worked both homecare isn‚Äôt supervised and some staff skip important tasks such as peri care long term is 1 staff for 8-10 residents that‚Äôs less than 5 min to get someone up and washed and dressed for breakfast let alone cared for all day

I was PSW in long term care. Lack of adequate ratio to seniors. Having to rush seniors through basic care, meals, toileting, baths. Leaving them in bed or chair or toilet too long after they requested help. PSWS are underpaid for the responsibilities placed on them. Need more qualified, certified PSWs AND more nursing staff. Seniors need more RESPECT from the institute staff. The staff need more resources to assist seniors in residence with dementia conditions.

My Mom was in long term care from January 2020 to March 23 2020 when she passed. I visited her every other day at different times of the day or evening. They were always short staffed and rushing the residents to get dressed and washed reminding them they only had 7 min per resident. This is impossible!! They were always short staffed. Certainly underpaid. I am not blaming the staff for this at all I respect and appreciate everything they do. They need to be paid more so the psw's dont quit.

I certainly do not want to end up in long-term care, and do not plan under any circumstances for this to be the case. I do not think, even if major reforms are put in place, that warehousing the aged, orphanage-style is the respectful way for seniors with medical issues to live out their days.

I work with residents who have behavioural disturbances and mental health problems. Much of their problems could be remedied by improved staffing, more and better trained staff. Boredom and basic issues such as pain contribute to a lot of other difficulties.

100

The Family Ban is causing deterioration, suffering and death. This is inhumane. My mom is suffering. Care is questionable and now we are blind to what is happening behind locked doors. Doctors at my mom's home don't care...the nursing home doctor caused her 3rd stroke and he basically, tried to kill her again during lockdown by not treating her with medication and if I didn't notice on my skype calls and get her to the hospital she would probably not be alive right now. I am fighting every single day for 95 days now to get back inside to protect and care for my mom. The fact that politicians are letting this happen is very scary. Money has no business in health care.

101

The system is broken and desperately needs to be fixed!

102

Worked for six years as an RPN in several long term care homes. Some private, some public. Could not get full time work. Public was definitely better than private. This was back in late 90's

103

Not enough care and qualified care for a dying person.

104

We live in rural Ontario. My 93-year-old mother-in-law lives with us. She is in poor health and needs almost constant care. My wife and I are retired and live on a pretty minimal fixed income and her mother doesn't have much in the way of either income or savings. The nearest LTC facilities are in Peterborough, 90 km away. Those that are "nice" are utterly unaffordable and even those I would characterize as "death's waiting room"-type geriatric warehouses are unreasonably expensive. We can't afford respite care or a full-time PCW in addition to the cost of even a short vacation, so there are no vacations. What are we supposed to do beyond hoping that this won't go on much longer? (BTW: Her older sister is still alive and active at 103!)

105

Worked in nursing home for 23 years and now retired.Worked as a PSW and it's not their fault as they are burnt out. Not enough hours on a day to do what they are supposed to do as a result of understaffing and low pay and when things go wrong as they usually do it is always PSW fault. Residents deserve better care and kind words from staff and management.

106

I am a single senior living in my own home who is assisting 5 people during Covid-19 with shopping and errands voluntarily. I have friends and friends families who have been in Long-Term Care and I know nurses and PSW's. I am familiar with the PSW training and believe it should be more comprehensive and that they should NOT be 'gig' workers but rather properly employed and monitored full time workers in homes or for those at home. Having experienced PSW's at home for care, I know there are good ones, but also very poor ones and there seems no recourse to find the good ones. I am also aware of how many LTC patients are in hospitals because they cannot be discharged since there is no-one to care for them. This situation is shocking as is the general state of LTC. Please make LTC part of our primary health care system and take it away from the For Profit sector.

107

Always short staffed which means less care to residents. Too many management. I also work in community now which is way better when it comes to individual care to people but this system is broken too

108

Very little personal care given to each individual patient. I don‚Äôt like Talking about my Mother‚Äôs stay in long term care because it was not a positive experience.

109

Both my mother and mother in law passed away in long term care homes Horrible service and no recourse for complaints. Everyone hides behind the saying. We‚Äôve doe our due diligence. Sickening

110

They are a terrible place to live your last years in.

111

As a PSW I provide most of the care while my nurse hands out meds, does some charting and naps. Yes that's right they nap. I hold the hands of palliative residents, wash and dress them when they pass so when their family comes to see them for the last time they look nice. When they're up all night "waiting for the bus" I'm the one who has to try to get them to go to bed. I'm the one who gets punched (bloody lip), scratched and bit. I don't want glory or praise; I want respect. Yes I wipe asses, because my nurse sure as Hell wont. I've had nurses that would walk past a room with a call bell going off and not even glance in the room. Why? Because they're too good for that. If you want to know what the problem is?It's people who think they're too good to feed somebody or clean up vomit, people who can't be bothered to comfort a confused resident or toilet them, but have no problem dictating from the other side of the desk the 101 things I should be doing. I love my residents dearly but I'm only one person and I only have one partner. That's 2 PSW's for 54 residents, most of which are incontinent and or dementia patients. Would you have 2 daycare workers for 54 2yr olds? Not likely. To top it off if my partner calls in sick them I'm likely working alone. ALONE!!! My administration cares not one bit about the residents, it's all about saving money; buying crap food and cheap supplies. Tell hospitals they can only have 2 nurses on night shift for every 54 residents and see how that flies. It won't. My residents fought in wars, farmed the land, they were teachers, mechanics, and nurses and they deserve better than corner in a room sharing a 4 drawer dresser and being parked in front of a tv all day. You want to fix the problem? Get me some help. Don't let LTC homes be run by people with business degrees. A business degree doesn't teach you how to take care of people, it teaches you to put a dollar value on people and you can't put a value on quality of life.

112

My parents recently moved from St. Catharines to Bobcaygeon, Ontario and are elderly. They just started receiving PSW for assistance with bathing and meal prep etc. This has helped to keep them in their own home. Physiotherapy services in the home not so helpful. Rarely can Physio visit and exercises are left for elderly to complete on their own. If they could do them on their own they wouldn't require the professional service to begin with. OT in the nursing homes is greatly required for seating, positioning as it relates to swallowing and feeding.

113

Retired nurse who worked in long term care for 32 years

114

We are so understaffed and we also don't not make enough money as care givers at all for all what we do we work hard we always short we don't get what we deserve

115

I just know that 40 years ago I took a job as a PSW at a private longterm care facility and it was horrendous and I quit after 2 days . I went off to College and after graduation as an RN I took a job at a private longterm facility and my second day there a resident was burned bu a hairdryer they were using on a coccyx ulcer as the aide forgot to remove it. The toilet paper and facecloths were counted. It was very short staffed and as soon as I could I got out and took a position at a hospital. I presently am retired and still so casual work with the same hospital. As a diabetes educator I heard many sad stories from families who had loved ones in a longterm facility. I have done much research and have educated myself and have realized that we should not allow a business to make a profit from other human beings who need our help. My daughter is a psw at a private longterm facility and some if her stories are very upsetting to me! We are the baby boomers and have some political clout and we need to use it as one day we may need a longterm facility and we do not deserve and should not tolerate shoddy poor care. Collectively we have a large loud voice so lets use it now!

116

My parents are now gone, but I may need LTC in the future. Here is what I want: Community, in-home and technological support as long as possible; LTC based on best-practice around the world (e.g. Denmark); my favourite music and other forms of beauty.

117

I have worked in long term care as a nurse for almost 8 years. Over that short time, I have seen the staffing crisis worsen with each year. It is expected to work short staffed on weekends and almost every shift during the summer months. Psws, nurses, dietary aides, and housekeeping staff struggle daily to provide quality and caring services due to time constraints and stresses of working short staffed. What makes this situation worse, is the lack of care supplies and functioning equipment available for us nurses and psws to provide daily care needs to our residents. So much time is wasted and infection is risked when staff have to take extra time to search for items like towels or gloves or soap, or worse we have to make due with what he can find or borrow supplies from a neighbouring unit. Add in the transfer lifts or vital sign taking equipment that rarely work, and that management will only band aid fix because new equipment ‚Äúisn‚Äôt in the budget‚Äù. The stress load on the frontline staff takes its toll mentally and physically, staff morale is low and the turnover is high. It‚Äôs very frustrating to continually plead for better staffing and necessary supplies and equipment, things we want and need to simply help us provide the type of care so many of us healthcare workers strive to provide for this vulnerable sector. I‚Äôm thankful these topics are being brought to light now, but it is also disheartening that our voices weren‚Äôt always heard when advocating for our LTC seniors and that it took a global pandemic to begin a call to action.

118

They should be tightly regulated by the gov. to ensure enough qualified staff on duty at all times. Private is fine by me as long they meet the standards set and regularly inspected. Gov run does not mean better. Look at our lack of Doctors outside of Toronto.

119

I have had several family members who have been in long term care and also others who have used home care. In long term care, I felt that although most workers were interested and compassionate, there were not enough of them. I have gone to visit my mother in law and have not been able to find a PSW or nurse to answer my questions so how does a fragile senior find the care necessary without an advocate?She moved out of one home and into another as she was in a room of 4 and one of the other patients in the room threatened her. She had no privacy and the bathroom shared by 4 residents was too small. The home care situation is also not a good one. The staff who attends a patient is not always the same which is upsetting for an elderly person who needs someone who understands them and their needs. There are not enough of them because the pay is terrible and they have to drive from place to place, in some cases without a full day of work. Some workers are excellent- others not as much. If good pay, benefits and respect are not offered to the staff, few excellent staff will stay and those who are not as caring or as hard working remain.

120

My Mom was in one in Clinton on and it was amazing and loving. The staff were gentle and kind. If you can't be that the you're in the wrong job.

121

I put my great aunt In a nursing home afew years ago she passed in 2004 but received wonderful care. Now they do Not have enough time to properly care for residents. My mom is 88 and we have community care come to her house 3 hrs total a week. For all they can do it really isn't t worth it. They can t even sweep under a table or even dust. Does help for her to give mom a shower once a week. But she couldn't t stay home if I didn t go there and do most things.

122

My friend's bed was too close to other patients and when I visited are I got sick myself frequently

123

As a union rep servicing LTC workers since the early 1990's, I have seen hours of direct care decrease significantly. Incidents of violence and substandard care are significantly more frequent. Working conditions are poor and as a result there is a critical shortage of qualified workers. There is significant stress on the workforce and the residents are not getting the care they deserve.

124

We are just starting in-home care for one of my parents.

125

Had home care for my husband, but only when he was actively ill. However, there are times when 'some' assistance would be a good thing.

126

my father in law had very little help from provincial healthcare workers and both my wife I had to take time off work to care for him.

127

noticed a decline in the quality of care, carers overworked, extra curricular activities falling by the wayside.

128

My father was in an acute care nursing home in Thunder Bay ON for 4-5 years until he died in 2013. He shared a room. It was a city run home. I found the staff compassionate and caring throughout. Overall care was good in my opinion. My father suffered from altzheimers at the end of his life.

129

From everything I have seen and heard about the long term care facilities in Ontario, I would never let a loved one placed in one. They are vile and our elders deserve so much better care and respect.

130

My mother was in long term care 10 yrs ago and there was not enough staff. She was often left in her soiled diaper and not cared for properly due to lack of staff particularly in the evening and at night. There were 2 psw for 2 floors...abominable...her buzzer calls were not answered the night she went into respiratory distress and passed away a couple of days after being admitted to the hospital...I observed other residents calling for help and no one came even after I brought it to staff attention. I observed residents being left in their wheelchair and soiled diaper all day and were changed only when lifted and put to bed for the night...they had no family members to advocate for them...heart wrenching... also slightly better care was given when she went into a private room which she paid without subsidized funding... as I am entering my golden years, going into a home in the future is my growing fear.

131

No experience but very concerned about the situation exposed during covid19

132

based on seeing my mother and grandmother in long term care homes - I am not going - When that becomes necessary I will buy myself a little sailboat and sail out to sea - but I will not be going into any long term care home...

133

This is really pathetic that a significant number of long term care residents have died due to Covid 19 and it has appeared through investigation that the reason behind the high percentage of death is poor quality of management. Government should take proper steps to remove all sort of obstacles and to enhance quality of all long term care homes to save the lives of seniors.

134

A poorly constructed survey.

135

My neighbour, for whom I am p.o.a. for health, and her daughter is p.o.a. for finances, was in a retirement residence owned by Revera. When her daughter lied that her mother had to be sent to a publicly-funded nursing home because there was no money to pay for the residence, the behaviour of the people at Revera, and the ugliness of their pressure on me to move her mother into a nursing home was unbelievable.

136

I work for the community have been for 5 years and it‚Äôs a real pleasure. Seeing the smiles you on my clients faces on how much I am making a difference in their lives.

137

Previously had friend in care. Lobbied locally for improved oversight and improved services.

138

PC's I'm familiar with differ enormously depending on whether they are for-profit or not. But all need more funding, more staff, more inspection & residents need more care from family members, friends and volunteers. Home care should be greatly expanded, with emphasis on staying at home, active. Scandinavian countries fo better than us.

139

Theft is an issue, only allowed 1 bath per week, more care needed when resident is close to death, doctor cannot administer morphine.

140

I have had at least two friends who have had very good experiences in publicly funded homes (Perley-Rideau and Gary Armstrong. The care was good, the activities plentiful and these people lived in care for 4 or five years each. One of these two was initially placed at Laurier Manor. The staff were caring but the facilities were crammed, the food unpalatable and there were no culturally appropriate activies, not to mention my friend's acute awareness of this lack. Another friend was also places in a private facility in the Perth area after a medical emergency caused her to be hospitalized and subsequently unable to return home. This situation included sharing a room. Though physically disabled, she was alert and suffered greatly from the lack of stimulation and privacy to a point where she became very depressed and lost the will to live. Happily, a spot was found for her in a publicly funded home and lived two more serene years. In the two cases where my friends were placed in the private facilities, they were put there because they could not return home after a medical emergency. They couldn't stay in hospital so they were 'placed' in the first available bed. And that is my greatest fear. Yes, they were given a choice of three locations but, under these circumstances, their choices were only met after many months languishing in inappropriate locations. They might have been better in home care. However, as physically disabled as they were by the - stroke after effects - that was not possible.

141

My mother has reallyexcellent care at Kensington Gardens, but others in profit care without unionized staff don‚Äôt.

142

My mother is in a senior residrnce. They are chronically short staffed, meals are small portions, late and not always edible. Only 1 person at night. Residents shipped in ambulance alone if need medical care.

143

I live alone but do not qualify for help

144

I am of an age that I am thinking of the possibility that I or my husband will end up in long term care in the future. Right now I am thinking that there is no way I would place myself or a loved one in long term care!!

145

As I mentioned in another question my mother was in a long-term nursing home but unfortunately she passed away in 2013 at 92 years old. They did not have enough staff, so not enough time for the patients. Thank God we were 3 sisters and we hired another person so that there would most of the time someone there everyday from 9:00 to 9:00 pm. One time my sister caught once of the PSW giving my mother a bath with cold water, my mother was screaming that she was cold. I will never forget that.

146

My wife was in a long term care home for 2.5 years and I found that she did not receive the type of care that she deserved

147

Fortunately my mother was in an extended care facility in Ottawa. She was well cared for but it was evident they were short staffed. The workers were very caring. But hard working.

148

I do not have a direct story but at my age It is a subject of great interest to me as is general level of Health Care. I have been appalled at the number of federal and Provincial elections (all Provinces) that have gone by with little or no attention to either subject.

149

My mother is the primary caregiver for my 94 year old grandmother who lives on her own in an apartment in Oshawa, Ontario. Prior to COVID-19, my grandmother would receive in home care from a PSW two hours a week. The rest of the time, it was up to my mother to drive from Ajax and provide care (helping with showers, meal preparation and keeping her company). She does all of this on top of her full time job. My grandmother refused to go to a long term care facility. Since COVID-19, my grandmother has been struggling a lot with her mental health (primarily, a heightened sense of loneliness, isolation, anxiety and depression). It has placed a severe strain on my mom.

150

Mother of a good friend lived in squalor in a local for profit LTC home (her daughter - who did not live close by - found the squalor when she went to clear her room). Friend's mother then started to fall. A first fall was not reported to her daughter. In a second fall she broke bones and ended up in hospital. She was then sent to publicly-funded home where she was well-cared for until her death.

151

I know several women who work as PSWs. They are fully dedicated, qualified and would do anything for the residents. They are overworked and underpaid. There is never enough staff and they end up working double shifts regularly. Meanwhile the owners live wealthy and comfortable lives

152

I only have experience of long term care in Qu√©bec, where, outside of palliative care, it is both costly and of poor quality.

153

A timely experience: my mother has end-stage MS, is in long term care, she is positive for Covid. She began experiencing symptoms of a secondary infection three weeks ago with onset of hallucinations, her nurse prescribed antibiotics for what she reasonably diagnosed as a UTI, I agreed with her instincts. My mother‚Äôs doctor then took her off of the medication just as she was beginning to respond and instead put her on anti-psychotics, essentially saying my mother had a mental break due to Covid stress. A hysterical woman. Last night my mother was hospitalized with sepsis from AN UNTREATED UTI. This is unacceptable and dangerous. Private nursing facilities should be a thing of the past. Publicly funded, operated nursing facilities with oversight, fair pay and treatment of workers with PPE protections in place. With real quality of life for residents. This should be the future of Long Term Care. Defund the police. Fund health care and social programs.

154

My aunt was in Hillel Lodge in Ottawa and I visited her quite often. I was impressed with that facility, as it was clean and well staffed.

155

Horrified by the recent news reports. But aware this has been a problem for a gery long time. We are all to blame.

156

I worked for Revera Health Services as a coordinator.

157

My mother who died in 2011, was in a retirement home and then in long-term care home for many years in Edmonton, Alberta. I always thought that the care she received there was very good.

158

The care is adequate but it's a small part of my wife's day. More time and resources need to be devoted to activities to relieve boredom and provide an environment that is stimulating and pleasant. The whole concept of "lockdown" has to be revisited. What this amounted to during the covid19 pandemic was almost a form of solitary confinement. Especially in end of life situations this amounts to cruel and unusual treatment for both the resident and the family. There may even be some legal issues here that should be addressed.

159

In my limited experience I have noted that the better quality care is in publicly run homes and care programs, but staff are poorly compensated, inconsistently scheduled and homes under resourced, especially when it comes to elders with special needs.

160

My mother was on Carlingview Manor in Ottawa, due to poor care she passed away from COVID 19. The home was dirty and smelled of urine whenever I visited and I heard about complaints of cockroaches

161

My loved one died of COVID-19 one month ago in a long term care facility

162

Have had family in LTC. Have a social work background

163

I've not been in long-term care. My sister in Alberta was an Alzheimer's patient inprivate long-term care in Alberta for years before her death. I have a son with disabilities who at some point may well require long term care. And I am in my 75th year, so it is not inconceivable I will need long-term care sometime in the future.

164

I worked for one summer years ago as a university student in a long-term care home (not in Ontario). It was so awful that I vowed never again to work in one. I thought that by now, things would have improved, but I guess I was wrong. There is no priority given to care for seniors: they are just warehoused and treated as burdens or cash cows. If the kind of conditions in these facilities had occurred in a day care, there would have been a huge uproar.

165

For profit care homes should be replaced with not for profit homes. Elder care should be part of Canada's universal health care services.

166

i have no experience but i care about what happens to our elders if it was for them we would be here we should be grateful to them and thankful is there any way that i can volunteer

167

My Mom was in a long term care facility in Ottawa

168

Extreme understaffing and low pay / recreation departments are essential for the mental well-being of residents

169

I am POA for my brother who went into long term care April 1, 2020. He contracted Covid within a few weeks and although now recovered it‚Äôs been a nightmare, no information no return phone calls, no updates.

170

2 short terms stays, 1 free poor staffing and communication, 2 paying better

171

I could have been referred to LTC last year when I had heart surgery, but chose to pay for residential care because it was in my neighbourhood. Interestingly, the main covid 19 problems in eastern Ontario are in privatew LTC. , not public. As long as PSWs are forced to take odd hours to earn a living wage and residents share rooms, , we will ahve problems with communicable diseases

172

My mom lived at home in Ottawa, since February 2017 she received the services of a PSW in the morning (breakfast, bathing, dressing). Some employees were fantastic, caring, showing empathy, speaking to my mom like a normal person should do, treating her like a human being. Unfortunately when people were that good they would quit to go to a private company for a better salary. Others were coming to do a job and not caring. I saw all of them since I had to explain what they had to do and where things were, since my mom was almost blind. The turnover of personnel was frequent and my mom had to adapt so many times to a new person and vice versa. They also were understaffed, sometimes could not replace a sick employee. Sometimes one of the PSW would be a francophone, that was nice, but the more important is that my mom felt that they were caring. The best thing however was that my mom could stay at home with her cat in a familiar surrounding because she was almost blind. Services were first offered through Community Care Access Centre (CCAC), there was a yearly review of the number of hours that would be provided to my mom. Than the system change to LHIN, with times the numbers of hours were decreased, but the PSW had to accomplish the same tasks. At the end I saw how the personnel was stressed, not enough time to care. They also were understaffed. There should be more money invested in these home care services (LHIN) provided by the province. I appreciated the help that was offered and respect all their employees (from the person who did the PSW timetable to the person who informed me by phone and to all the PSWthat work with my mom). Everybody should be better paid, better training should be offered about caring, empathy, communication. Hopefully more PSW could be hired. Being at home means less strain on the health system. My mom passed away at home last fall. I hope my comments can be helpful in improving the LTC in residences or at home. Christiane Zufferey

173

My aunt was in a long term care home, and she had suffered from dementia. She was in a small town, and the home was a part of the community. Although it was a for profit home, she received outstanding care. Alas, that does not apply to most for profit homes.

174

After reading the CAF report about the 5 LTCH in Ontario, and I mean this in the most empathetic way, if I was to ever be in the position that the residents were described as I would think it more dignified to be executed. It is truly appalling how the residents are treated, the events in that report should not happen to any human beings. I wouldn‚Äôt wish it on my worst enemy. I am incredibly disturbed by what I read. Time to fix it‚Äîfast.

175

My experience with home care is positive since my son is in a group home with few other occupants.

176

My sister had informal home care for a while, but eventually needed 24 hour support, so moved to LTC after a hospital event. The staff were friendly and well-motivated, I believe, but the care was not careful (e.g. needed hearing aid lost twice; e.g. not ensuring her call button was where she could reach and use it, though she needed it to be functioning) or consistent. Alert advocacy by friends was essential. The problem may have been insufficiently trained staff, or inadequate standards and management, or a combination. Bill 175 addresses a need: upgrading the flow of quality care among Hospital, Home Care, and LTC. But Bill 175 is treacherous: I follow the Ontario Health Coalition's view - the Bill weakens the whole by privatizing the service delivery, and removing public accountability by replacing the LHINs with a kind of private-public governance. The Bill should not be passed, or not as is. Given the Ford majority, it probably will be passed. So amendment of the Bill is needed to prevent worst outcomes, and to leave a platform for later recovery of public control.

177

I don‚Äôt have a story but I have recommendations: Treat LTC like a medical facility (eg if there‚Äôs a pandemic on the horizon they need to be part of the plan!) Better training in end-of-life care and planning around transfer to hospital Use of Nurse Practitioners and more RNs could improve care and cut costs Integrated community/village model (eg a daycare, a few small stores, a gym, a house of worship in the same building/complex) so that the people in LTC remain part of the community

178

Home care of relative is well done

179

No story to add at this time.

180

My parents receive minimal support from home Care now that they are in a retirement home. A few months ago they needed a lot more support, and found the system frustrating- workers not showing up at the arranged times, difficult to reach someone on the phone to resolve issues, no services for things they actually needed help with...GP not available when medical issues arise...

181

Done some volunteer work in shelters no long term care but I am interested as a necesary service in the community

182

My parents were in a retirement home...

183

both of my parents have been in long term care. my mother passed away three years ago and my father is still in care. My father receives excellent care in an up to date amazing facility. My mother was in a facility that was dated and did not have the same level of available space that my father has. The staff were amazing but overworked and working in a. space that was dated and needed to be redone. It was small and when she died did not even have a morgue or space for her to be while they waited for the funeral home . Her poor roommate lay in room with a dead woman for the entire night and we had no space to properly say goodbye . There was also a shortage of choice for her when she did need to go to a home. There were many for profit spaces but she could not afford them, so she had to go to a home that was not in her home town and where she felt isolated and depressed and alone. It was not the way this wonderful woman should have spent her last few months of her life.

184

My mother is in long term care in Ottawa. She has been left in a wet diaper for many hours at night. Although the family is providing incontinence care products the staff only wants to change her once. She goes to bed at approx. 7:30pm and gets up at approx. 7:30am.... Her nightgown and bedclothes are soaking wet after 12 hours and have to be changed. Mom complains that she has been cold and uncomfortable and ringing for help throughout the night. We were told that at night, there is only 1 psw for 32 residents and they cannot change her more than once. They are trying a "heavy duty paper that holds 4 litres of liquid"!!! This is heart-breaking. More staff is required. I'm a 70year old woman and I get up at least 2x a night to use the toilet. My mother is 99 and understandably her bladder needs emptying more than once. She complains that no one answers the call bell in a timely manner. She knows when she has to have a BM and tries to alert staff by using her bell but staff take so long to respond that she has to 'go' in her diaper causing anxiety, shame and discomfort. She complains that staff are rough when helping her and she often has bruises on her arms. She has fallen in the bathroom on a number of occassions when attempting to toilet herself when no one has come to assist her. On one occasion she fell in the bathroom and couldn't call for help as the call bell was on the wall and she couldn't get up off of the floor to reach the cord. She lay on the floor for "a long time" before someone finally came to check on her. Medication was not administered correctly - I repeatedly had to let staff know that a prophylactic antibiotic for my mother's frequent UTI's needs to be administered an hour before or two hours after meals in order to be effective. It was being given with her breakfeast. Although it was explained that my mother often needed to have a course of antibiotics repeated for her UTI's, staff was reluctant to test her urine when the antibiotic was finished. They wanted to wait until she showed symptoms again, resulting in a full blown UTI again. No one seems to read the charts. Medication is not ordered in a timely manner and it was't until my mother mentioned that she hadn't been getting a medication that I reviewed the monthly statement from the pharmacy that I realized that she was indeed correct and the medication had never been ordered. Our family has had to intervene on many occasions and then we feel like we are a nuisance. Unless family is involved, many aspects of care are just not dealt with. My mother feels that staff don't willingly help her. When she has to ask for help she feels that she is being a nuisance and feels guilty as she knows everyone is very busy. She has said that she is afraid of some staff members. Often she cannot understand what staff are saying to her. Accents are hard for her to understand. She has severe hearing loss and although she wears hearing aids she relies on lip reading. The wearing of masks has made it very difficult for her to know what staff is saying to her. The food is not appetizing and meals are not something to look forward to. The dining room is noisy and hectic.

185

I have been very happy with my mother's care in private retirement residence 2014-2019, and a municipal LTC home since Nov 2019.

186

cuts under Mike Harris caused much damage; improve full time employment and training of staff; then care will improve; this should be run like hospitals and not as a profit investment

187

My Mom was in a home before she passed away 2 yrs ago. She received good care but the staff is so overworked and more importantly they are not paid a proper salary. The PSW‚Äôs deserve more respect and r√©mun√©ration for the hard work they do for our loved ones!

188

My mother was in a home and did not receive the care we would expect without having to be there to give constant reminders of the recommended medical care she should get for her Alzheimer's disease.

189

My mother has dementia. She is still at home with dad as the primary care giver. We pay for 20 hours per week of in home care, and receive 6 hours per week of government funded in home care. My mom is on a wait list for long term care at two facilities in ottawa. I want to feel that my mother will get the care she needs and deserves when she does get admitted to LTC.

190

Father has parkinson's and is in a nursing home for the past 10 years.

191

I don't have a story to share about long-term care but I think that the situation in long-term care homes during the pandemic has been horrible and should never have happened.

192

Many years ago I had an uncle in a privately run nursing home in Perth Ontario. My mother-in-law worked at the hospital who took it over. Hospital staff were appalled. She said that what residents didn‚Äôt eat at lunch was all mixed together for the next meal. My mother would take food to him and said he was obviously very hungry all the time. Obviously it has not changed a lot in some of the homes.

193

My mother did not receive timely care when needing to go to the toilet or being feed regularly!

194

Concerns expressed about getting less paid worker with least training possible assigned to work in private LTC sights. Concerns not addressed over the years & getting worse.

195

I worked in a hospital in the Physiotherapy Department many years ago and worked with elderly patients who waited for long-term care beds. I would visit them often. More recently I have known and visited several people in long-term care homes and witnessed the lack of trained staff and the shortage of staff in these homes.

196

It lacks of many things, but the most important is affection for people. either because they do not have time or do not care.

197

I cared for my husband who had vascular dementia, Lewy Body andPrimary Progressive Aphasia for the last 10 years. I paid for any services that I thought would benefit him during that time. He died June 1, 2020. He was 4 months in hospital awaiting a long term care bed. My mother will celebrate her 100th birthday this month and she lives in long term care. Staff there are wonderful but there are not enough. Many do not work full-time and must work at other facilities. I think they are not paid adequately with appropriate benefits. More nurses and nurse practitioners are required and a higher resident - PSW ratio is required. More funding for more activity staff as well.

198

My mother in law was in a private home in Quebec. Although it's a different province, the problems are very similar, and I have the issue at heart.

199

My grandmother was in care for 10 years. She had Alzheimer's and would often be left alone in a piss filled diaper for hours at a time. I remember being horrified by the conditions in the home.

200

I never have any experience with long term care but iam taking psw course I will out for placement in the beginning of august

201

My mother works in a long term care facility that very frequently under staffs their PSW's and nurses. There are frequently times my mother will have no choice but to provide care to too many patients for one individual. As a PSW my mother is tasked with ensuring loved ones are well fed, clean, and as comfortable as possible. Due to strict budgets this has become next to impossible to achieve. My mother puts her heart and soul into the care of her residents, and it breaks her heart that she is not capable of providing the BEST care to each person. Most PSW's and nurses are doing the very best they can with what little resources they are given. Retirement care should not be in the hands of those simply looking for financial gain; this takes away the human aspect of retirement care.

202

My mother had good long term care in a supportive environment. One of my daughters trained as a nurse and in a clinical placement, was astounded by the limited level of care and attention residents were given.

203

My friend contacted covid at the residence. Pray for her survival.

204

My Mother has been in care in both assisted living and long term homes. I currently volunteer at her residence so am familiar with the building, the staff and the funding. I am active with the Family and Friends Council. The Salvation Army Grace is underfunded by an antiquated system that grants your funding by two year old data. Fortunately for our family the staff at the Manor are committed and most have a long work history with the facility making a continuity of service. Having been part of other facilities with a high turnover of staff you can see the difference in care. The food budget paid by the province is inadequate and The Salvation Army has opted to top up this funding to feed the residents.

205

My father was in long term care of 10 years, I was there all the time looking out for him, advocating so his needs would be taken of. I made numerous complaints to the Ministry of Health and nothing changed. Sadly we have given up on our Elderly. I am heartbroken at the lack of respect given to them, the constant cutbacks in essential services, the poor quality of food they have to purchase on a super low budget per resident, the low pay for employees. It is shameful, absolutely shameful!

206

I have witnessed many caregivers who are warm and caring, but most have to work two or three jobs at different facilities in order to make ends meet. My first recommendation would be regarding staffing levels and conditions --- increase the base salary, offer full-time employment with benefits, recognize the demands of the job and make working in LTC an attractive career choice. I would also suggest that older facilities that (ware)house

207

When I was a teenager, my after school job was working in an activities department at a nursing home. I still remember seeing a shocking disregard for the dignity of residents. One time that stood out was a resident begging for assistance to use the washroom. The nurses at the nursing station told her to wait, and to stop complaining. Ultimately she spiked herself because no one was willing to help. I was a kid and didn‚Äôt know how to help. But I still think about her being denied that basic bit of humanity and care.

208

My husband has been living in LTC for over a year. Generally the care has been good to acceptable but not enough staff to provide the services that he requests in a timely fashion, if at all. Even good staff are in a constant hurry to complete all of their many routine tasks. Additional care and demands cannot be attended to regularly. Crisis' interfere often in LTC facilities.

209

My mother was in a public/community facility which was unionized. The building was relatively new with separate rooms and a cook and kitchen in each wing. I was lucky...My mother was lucky... I know this. I was on the caregiver for residents committee and management was fairly responsive. But even in this facility, they were short staffed and it needed another RN. They also needed physical therapists and RMTs and OTs.

210

I have a sister with Down syndrome. I am taking on her long-term care permanently as my parents age. We do not trust group homes to provide adequate care free from violence, harm, and a lack of stable support. We view care homes and group homes as institutions in a new form. Taking on my sister's care as an unpaid caregiver for the rest of my life (I'm only 30) is the only option to keep her safe, in the community, and free from abuse with the current models of long-term care.

211

I started as a volunteer playing games with the elderly for a few years, then worked my way up to a dishwasher, then eventually became a server. Even at the high end retirement home I was working at (owned at the time by a smaller corporation but now bought by revera), budgets for fresh veggies and special diets (diabetes) were limited. Lots of processed foods and canned item were used, and a one size fits all approach was taken. The staffing was bare bones and attention to detail was hard to execute. For me personally, the hardest thing was the connection to the residents. They were all amazing individuals, but there was no time to interact beyond treating them like a customer. To me long term care should not have this approach, the repetition of their days was mindless, and without these little conversations / connections the days would repeat with little change. I write all this to say, there is little room for compassion in the current system. PSW‚Äôs and nurses were pushed to their limits, and staffing was always an issue. The time spent per resident was not always adequate. For a place you go to die, I think we should have a more holistic approach that can offer a quality of life that fits each resident. For profit industry will never accomodate this. Thank you.

212

My mom lives in Independant residence she has her own apt. But she has mobility issues should not be cleaning apt. She was isolated since march my sister helps her. My sister could not go into my mom apt or my mom out. My mom needs help with stuff...i think it is so inhumane...unjust

213

I have had one grandmother who suffered from a lack of attention in a for-profit care home and another who is very fond of her publicly-funded home care. The former regularly missed meals and failed to recieve timely assistance with her requests, including requests for medication. This was due to chronic understaffing, not because the staff weren't working extremely hard. This should not have been a problem given the cost of the facility. The latter has been given the time to bond with her caregiver, to discuss her needs thoroughly and make regular changes. If the former had been in a healthy enough mental state, I would have much preferred to see her with home care or to have her moved to another facility, but the care home she was in made this difficult. I regret the stress she had to endure in her last months of life.

214

My mother was in LTC in Hamilton from 2007 until her death from pneumonia in 2018 at the age of 94. Over that time I observed that the majority of care workers, RPN's and RNs were conscientious. However, the personal care workers in particular were consistently overworked and often demoralized by having to deal with violent residents. More support was needed in this area. Further, without the consistent attention of our family, potentially serious problems would not have been addressed in a timely way. For instance, my mother, who had dementia, was still being hauled up out of bed or wheelchair with a lift that caused her extreme pain and anguish--she also suffered from debilitating arthritis--when she needed to be toileted. While I did not expect staff to risk back injury to lift her manually, I was distressed that this practice was continued when a Hoyer lift could have been used effectively and with less pain. The staff knew this as did the RPN I confronted with the problem. But no one bothered to do anything until I coincidentally witnessed my mother's extreme fear and anger and insisted on an alternative--a combination of PCW overwork and indifference on the RPN's part that infuriated me. But one has to be very careful who you speak to and how, especially as I live a 6 hour drive away and could only visit for a few days every 6-8 weeks. During my mother's last year in LTC the doctor in charge of most of the residents inexplicably cancelled pain medication, in my mother's case the Tylenol administered for her arthritis. Family was not informed and I only learned of this, in confidence, after asking questions of staff about Mom's pain. The doctor moved on to another gig and the new doctor reinstated the pain meds, but I never did understand how such a thing could take place without question or challenge. The staff just hold their breath. Dental care is not really addressed in LTC residences. A visiting dentist comes periodically but my mother's situation was not really monitored. In no time it seemed she needed cavities filled--no small feat when you have to arrange to get her to a dentist's office and she fights it all the way! We paid to have a hygienist visit mom with increasing regularity over the years, especially as she was refusing dental hygiene measures such as daily brushing. In mom's final years, the hygienist had means of coating mom's teeth in order to forestall decay as we could no longer take her to a dentist outside of the facility. So there are solutions but you have to figure them out yourself. I only knew about such services because the dental hygienist I see in Ottawa told me about them and even sourced the service. The negligence of dental hygiene and care in LTC mirrors the absence of dental health care in Canada. Yet more than once Mom's inexplicable lassitude and poor spirits was attributable to tooth decay issues. During the last year or so I would stay and feed mom at lunch and dinner and I was moved by the camaraderie and caring of the PCWs and others who did the hand feeding. We need more of them and they need to be better compensated for their work. I cannot overstate how relieved I am that my mother is no longer alive during this crisis.

215

My mother lived at the Perley Rideau LTC for two years from 2011- 2013. During that time, the staffing requirements were reduced, creating backlog in care, especially on the weekends and evenings. Luckily for my mother, she had 5 of her children providing weekly support of 30 hours, and received 20 hours of private care, so that she will receive the care she deserved at 90 years.However, that was not the case for other residents, who had limited family and financial resources. I did witness the following with my mother and with other residents; late toileting on the weekend, which meant that my mother had to sit with feces in her pull up for over 45 minutes; my mother missing her breakfast as there was limited staff; a Psw screaming at a resident with dementia,which I reported; my mother falling out of her bed in the evening and found later by a PSW on his rounds; this situation was rectified by better cushioning and lowering her bed following a family member's complaint. I would hope that our elders in LTR receive the care and dignity that they deserve.

216

Even before covid-19, I was angered by the lack of care available to a family member.

217

Elder (ill) parent brought home for better care.

218

I worked in long-term care for 11 years. I completely burned-out both physically and emotionally. I suffered a mental break down and had to be admitted to hospital for 6 weeks. I never returned to work in LTC again.

219

Our experience with several different family members has only been good but we realize that most people in long term care would not be able to afford what is paid for this quality of care.

220

The staff shortage problems of ‚Äòfor-profit‚Äô corporations run long-term care and retirement homes have been endemic and exacerbating for years due to their ‚Äòbottom line‚Äô operations. PSWs and RPNs cannot meet living expenses working normal 8-hr. shifts, 5 days/wk., but must resort to overtime shifts (time and a half pay) and take one or more additional jobs at other institutions. PSWs (6 mos. college training) earn from $16-$20/hr; PSWs (2 yrs. college training) earn only slight more from $18-$24/hr. The majority of these nurses work on-call (no stability, no sick leave, no vacation leave, bounced from one shift to another in a 24 hr. day, and have EI deducted each pay). Only a few, after years of seniority, gain permanent positions (5-day shifts) with no overtime allowed. All nurses in these centres have been and continue to be overwhelmed with more work each shift than anyone of them can properly do. A registered nurse (RN) will regularly be on duty for day shift, may be present during an evening shift, but it is common place during an overnight shift for one PSW along with two PSWs alone to cover 60-70 patients in a 3-storey institution. Annual audits of theses centres are conducted by Ministry of Health Inspectors with front office personnel but rarely if ever extend to the nursing floors. No nurse will blow the whistle on any of these corporate institutional abuses knowing that immediate firing is the consequence; nevertheless, word of dire situations leaks out. Fortunately city and municipal (township) centres are more publicly-minded run and pay better wages. It‚Äôs past time that the province took over operation of all corporate long-term care and retirement homes; there should be no place for profit motive in their exploitative operation.

221

My mother was in a long-term care home and while the staff were caring people, there were clearly not enough of them to care for the people who lived there. My mother was physically very frail and needed help with every aspect of her day, but her mind was still sharp, and she could ask for things when she needed them, but many if not most, of the other residents couldn't advocate for themselves at all. There just wasn't enough time for all of the people to get the level of care that everyone should have.

222

Once a week I receive an RN visit to change the dressing on my PICC line (I am on TPN)

223

My 99 year old mother moved from retirement living to LTC in January 2020. One cost $7000 a month, the other $3000 a month. You get what you pay for. Staffing, care, attention, food and accommodation are all sub standard. The problem in Ontario is that after waiting three years for LTC you MUST accept the placement or start over on the wait list. All the staff are doing their best. However, the salary scale is pathetic. You only get the best dedicated, qualified people when you reimburse accordingly. We continue to have to supplement the care with foot care, hearing aid attention, hair care and nail care. All if the above have been cancelled due to the pandemic as has our attendance at her LTC. Time for a revamp of this situation.

224

Gave up on publicly funded home care...don't show up at times scheduled, poor English skills, poorly oriented to the client needs upon arrival. I need respite support. Hire privately as needed or use fee for service resources

225

Follow up Care of patient experiencing mental health services

226

Ontario must set staffing ratios, ensure proper infection control, ensure proper physical layout, and force LTC homes to offer staff full time jobs (so staff don't have to work in multiple homes to earn their living). These steps will prevent another disaster like we're seeing.

227

too much odor, too crowded, no protection against violence prone residents, lose wheelchairs

228

I am a member of the Council on Aging in Ottawa and am familiar with the long term care sector. I was also a member of Ottawa City Council & am familiar with municipal homes for the aged.

229

Long wait lists left my neighbour in hospital for almost 7 months now.

230

As a worker ,RN, SUPERVISOR family member of two and many associates. This LTC has been out of control for 20years ot more.These facilities need be several limited and only for thee most sever limited.Then not for profit no place in care for people, child,seniors or disabled.

231

Because of a dearth of trained PSWs, there is never enough time to carry out any of the very basic sevices required by the residents in ltc. For profit ltc providers still must follow government budgets while trying to make a profit and no one can make a profit without cut backs in services to residents.

232

The idea of entering long term care scares the hell out of me

233

I have worked in long term care for more than 10 years. Profit and non-profit, retirement and LTC, front line and management. The biggest problem is inconsistent/poor care. This is most often the result of a management which does not have care as its fist priority.

234

I loved working there (paid and volunteer) but noticed many problems due to lack of staffing and as a result, care was compromised

235

My aunt was in a long term care in Thunder Bay and had great care. I was so grateful that she died before COVID.

236

I have no experience with any type of home care. But I am a compassionate person, and I believe every person deserves dignity. As a teacher, I have seen first hand the results of a defunded system. I am saddened, but not surprised that private homes are so poorly regulated - leading to under paid staff, not enough resources, and thus not enough care. Even public homes need more funding. The workers deserve better pay and full time regular shifts. People do well when they have the tools to succeed. Give LTC and all homes the funding and training - and you will have people who are well taken care of.

237

In LTC: Diaper rationing, no separate home for younger adults in LTC, lack of staff, low staff consistency since most staff work at more than 1 LTC facility, staff don't have time to spend with the residents or attend their needs in timely manner, rooms may have 3 residents, depressing institutional looking.

238

I just volunteer and most of my family has worked or volunteered in one at one point. I just think PSW's are the most hard working people in there and some of the new PSW's don't know what they are doing or can barely speak English and lack training. But I think those people deserve a 5 dollar raise instead of that 4 dollar temporary pay. I also think they should go through some more school before getting hired and proper testing. Those people are not getting paid enough for that back braking work.

239

My husband has Alzheimer‚Äôs and is currently a resident At Granite Ridge, which is run by Sienna Living. His care there is excellent, with compassionate, attentive staff. Granite Ridge has also provided good recreology care and Physiotherapy. The staff has always responded to my concerns and questions promptly. However, I believe that the staff to resident ratio is not good, on his unit, there are 3 PSWs + 1 RPN, for 32 residents. This is not enough, as many of the residents on his unit are in wheelchairs and need assistance with feeding. They would benefit from having at least 1 additional PSW.

240

I'm a psw over 2o years. I work long hours with little breaks and still not enough time to get all my task done. I even come is 30 mim early yet still not enough time. The managers don't care about the clients just money. The staffing level is too low and the level of care or need is high.

241

it was too beef to be very meaningful, but it seemed to be a well run institution. Her brief stay began with three days of quarantine to make sure she dd not bring in something to the institution. Then the COVID energy it and she was effectively isolated then for the remains time.

242

It concerns me that many of the ltc facilities have RPNs in administrative positions rather than RNs. This level of caregiver is not trained in leadership. I am also appalled that PSWs have about 6 minutes per resident to assist with morning care. This leads to assembly line work with many short-cuts being taken. They are moved around often so cannot get to know their residents so things get missed and episodes of "roughness" can occur as both resident and care giver are frustrated and feel powerless in the situation

243

I see people move to long term care from a retirement home I work at. It is privately owned, and costs a great deal of money to live there, a great deal of money is being taken in, yet none of it is going to workers - or as little as is legally permitted, and I have questions about some recurrent accounting errors that seem designed to routinely claw back wages from new Canadians who don't know their rights. Unrealistically low, exploitive pay that does not reflect the skills needed to do the jobs, no benefits, no full time positions, but more than full time hours, no sick days. Not enough in a paycheque working full time to cover even a modest apartment, no money left for food, utilities, or anything else. If this is how a highly profitable, toney and expensive retirement home chain treats its workers, expecting them to do double their work load as staff quit constantly, I imagine it is much worse for staff caring for clients who don't have a voice or have vocal, rich relatives looking out for them.

244

nothing to share but the situation infuriates me from a social justice perspective

245

I worked on contract documents for the design of a seniors home in North Bay. I have friends/relatives who are caregivers.

246

Under-Staffed, no time to provide extra care ie: Feeding, Bathing, Personal Care

247

My Mom was in a nursing home in Ottawa for 6 years. We visited her every Sunday and occasionally through the week. Always when she was sick. So, I was very involved with her care. One time I found her on the toilet, crying, because she was ringing for help for a long time (she couldn‚Äôt feel her legs) and no one came to help her. When I inquired as to where her PSW, I was told that she was on break had just left to go on break!!! Leaving my Mom for a longer time. I was always asking staff to let me know when Mom was sick or not feeling good and only a few times did I get a call. But I knew when she was sick because her room mate would call me. The day she went into the hospital, it was her roommate who informed me. We would have the yearly meetings, I would bring up issues that I would want changed or addressed but over the course of the year, there was no communication as to how my issues would be addressed. I have to say that people were caring and they tried their best but they were time strapped and there wasn‚Äôt time e to address anything extra in their shift. So phone calls to me never got made because they were busy doing the required care. I saw people neglected, and uncared for but I wasn‚Äôt able to do anything but inform the staff. Beyond that, I wasn‚Äôt able to do more. Mom died 3 years ago. The nursing homes have been in trouble for at least 9 or 10 years!!! My daughter is a PSW and said that she‚Äôs never work in a nursing home unless things changed. She told me that you had like 9 minutes to get a resident dressed and ready for breakfast. It takes me longer than 9 minutes to get going in the morning and I‚Äôm far more able than someone in a nursing home. There was also the fact that the work wasn‚Äôt full-time. My daughter would have to go to 2 or 3 nursing homes to get full-time hours. Such a sad situation for our family members. It has to change!!!

248

We need to pay staff and make them permanet and with benefits. It is a challenging job and they deserve more. Staffing is one of the biggest concerns as are living conditions within the buildings. Family support is essential both emotionally and physically and families should never again be barred from LTC facilities. What we have done under COVID is barbaric and I suspect more people have died from isolation than COVID in these facilities. I do not know what I would have done other than move in and sleep on the floor beside my family person in these circumstances. We are ignoring the unseen.

249

My experience was good, but the present situation is disgusting, our seniors deserve better, much better. All LTC homes should ALL be government run and inspected on a unannounced regular basis. NO ONE SHOULD DIE ALONE - NO ONE.

250

My husband in care has late stage early onset dementia. I have not been able to see him since early March.His home is one of the hardest hit by COVID in Ottawa. At the beginning of May, another resident pushed him down and he broke his hip. He has been in hospital since. There has been inadequate communication between the home and the hospital and he has not been receiving a key medication. I need answers about how this was allowed to happen and what kind of redress he can expect to receive. But I‚Äôm also stuck. I am also a senior with my own health issues and I can‚Äôt bring him home. I don‚Äôt know what to do. The LHIN has no advice to give me.

251

Staffing shortages, low wages, long hours to increase their pay, taking care of difficult seniors, creates burn out. It‚Äôs a highly emotional and demanding job in terms of patience and empathy. Administrators have to be more understanding and family of seniors need to be respected and listened to when they voice their concerns. Trespassing and banning family that spoke out over the years has created a culture of fear among seniors Ann‚Äôs their families. I have spoken to nurses and families that have been to scared to speak up after another family member that spoke up was retaliated against by unlawful banning, trespass or restricted hours. Seeing your loved one abused can result in an emotional outburst. Like I said , it‚Äôs an emotionally charged environment to begin with. As for change, there are already all kinds of rules and regulations and had they been strictly enforced, we would be better off. No matter what changes are made, without enforcement it will make little difference. Also, stop punishing the on the ground watch dogs, the families, they see everything!

252

As am emergency nurse, the condition of patients transferred from long term care was predictability atrocious. Care was clearly lacking. It was heartbreaking to have to return them to the home. This is not new. This like hallway medicine has been in our system for decades

253

Our family installed a camera to monitor our brother's care. What we witnessed has altered our souls forever. We witnessed unimaginable abuse and have documented it through video and written communication. We are four sisters who were traumatized witnessing the abuse, and our brother had to actually live the nightmare. We are hoping that a public inquiry will be held, so we can present our brother's experience. We strongly believe that abuse is not happening in just a few isolated places; it is rampant. We believe that at the root of the problem is a lack of work ethic and personal suitability to the job of PSW. As such, we view the issue as systemic and societal. It is such a huge issue that reform in the form of retraining is needed at every level connected to long-term care.

254

My brother recently moved into Peter D. Clarke Centre in Ottawa after being stuck in Montfort Hospital for 17 months, waiting for a long term care bed. He has Parkinson's disease, with increasing dementia. Since he moved in April 1st, I haven't been able to see him or help him transition to this new place. I know he was unhappy and confused, and he immediately went into quarantine, keeping him in his room, with no activities, and few opportunities to socialize. While in there, he caught Covid 19, but luckily he had mild cold symptoms. He is better now, but they are still under quarantine, and I know the staff is very stretched for time. He is bored, but there are no volunteers there to help with activities, and of course, I am not allowed in to see him. I have no way of finding out what all the conditions are like for him, and after hearing the horror stories of other places, I am worried about his care. I suppose if he was in private care it could be worse, but he is in a City of Ottawa place. I hope the lockdowns end soon.

255

While I have little recent direct experience, several of my friends have loved ones in long term care and discuss their frustrations with me about the poor quality of care they are witness to. My husband was in rehab in a longterm care facility a few years ago following an accident which resulted in a broken hip. The conditions there were appalling: the smell of soiled linens would greet me as I stepped out of the elevator onto his floor; inedible, unidentifiable food; beds which weren‚Äôt straightened or changed for weeks at a time; having to wait over an hour, sometimes two, for pain medication. I believe one of our worst nightmares is the fear of ending up in longterm care when we can no longer care for ourselves in old age.

256

I am appalled at the death rates in some homes. As a retired soldier I trust their reports on conditions

257

My brother is in long term ( I don‚Äôt like writing home or care). It is not a home and care is limited. He has been abused, neglected by staff and abused by another resident that needed to be in a facility that had the qualifications to handle him. Police had to be called in one abusive situation, by the facility. My brother suffered a great deal, as staff were afraid of this resident and allowed him to run the floor. This giving him a false feeling of being in charge (this person has dementia and the resident was directed to believe he was a worker) We as a family had to go to this facility to feed and care for my brother, in order for him to survive this constant fear of this resident and some staff. Staff was so frustrated and frightened that they took it out on residents. We have a camera in my brothers room and was appalled at what went on and continued to go on after sending videos of the negligence and abuse to the ministry and the Director of Care. I have no faith in our government to change anything, after all these residents can‚Äôt vote. So no voice means you are zero to government!

258

Long term care must be funded federally and not for profit, no corporations should be allowed to run a long term care center

259

My sister worked in a LTC as a teen (now 41) and said we would never put a loved one in a home. With the current situation she has said this is exactly what she saw back then. The reports should not be a surprise. Remove profit from the equation.

260

Do not have any stories!

261

Lack of spaces Unable to access something near family to make visiting easy Staff is often apathetic When it is time to die, there should be associated facilities that function like hospices to support family and their loved one in comfort.

262

My father who will be 99 at the end of June has just recently applied for home care. Very recently he has been unable to stand and obviously now needs assistance at home. Initially he was given 1 hour per day of help but has just started on occasion 2 hours per day. It is my understanding that there is no specific time of day that help will be come and there there is not one specific person assigned to him. This means multiple people will be coming and going. This is of concern to me since This is exactly the scenario in longterm care homes which contributed to the spread of the coronavirus.

263

13 years of parent in long term care

264

I am concerned that my 82-year old mother who lives alone will not consent to moving to a long-term care home when she needs to.

265

Too expensive. Public help from LHIN is limited and useless. Have to be wealthy to afford in home care. Private care is outgragrous and the cost of accomodation pirtion is blown out of proportion in comparison to cost of living. A retirement one bedroom with no kitchen and one room is equivalent to a luxury condominium. Private care owners are stealing our elderly parents lufe savings. I have no problem paying for personal care but the accomodation proportion is highway robbery. Many people cannot afford nor afford to throw away their life savings and have no choice but LTC. The thought is terrifying for anyone to end up in one of these facilities.

266

Although we are paying for care for my dad, the care does need to be of the highest standard. I have heard horror stories from my dads private care worker that for profit seniors homes are beyond broken. Not enough staff, uncaring staff, neglect, and incompetence. The bottom line and profit are the most important, care and the people living in these places are at the bottom of the priority list.

267

I work for a home healthcare company and I know how understaffed and underpaid the staff is in these facilities. Massive reform is needed with for-profit organizations, these companies are only interested in the bottom line. Staff in RH are double booked and scheduled for 12-15 hour days meaning they never spend the allocated time with clients because they simply don‚Äôt have it. But these companies are still taking the money for the length of those visits. For profit conglomerates need to be divided up and better oversight must be provided. Ideally they should be dissolved and run by the government. These companies have deep pockets to fight unions tooth and nail, deep pockets to make lawsuits quietly go away, and care about nothing except more contracts from the LHIN and more clients they cannot possibly service adequately.

268

I worked 30 years in long term care. Main problem is staffing. Homes are not willing to hire staff and pay benefits. Cycle of agency staff constantly with no experience.

269

Parent had been in a long care home and received appropriate care [2000-2005]

270

no recent experience

271

My parents , in their nineties, at the same time required LTC. They were fortunately both veterans so were able to live at the Rideau Perley Residence, 2016- 2017. It was wonderful but I know unlike other residences. Most in my age group have/had parents who have needed assistance. Just before my parents passed I could see changes even at the Perley after Ford came into power. A good example was removing the ward clerk position. Nurses and family became responsible for scheduling appointments with Doctors and arranging transportation. Nurses doing this took time away from personal interaction with their patients! No more budget cuts! Let‚Äôs raise taxes to look after the vulnerable in our society.

272

I suffered a stroke, several ministrokes and heart attack(s) a few years ago. My experience since has been absolutely consistent across all social services, and professional health care. It all has to do with the amount of money you are capable of generating as a patient. There was absolutely no care whatsoever afterwords. None. The resulting situation caused immense guilt, fustration and trauma to my partner who had to manage the situation alone. I acquired several cognitive, physical and psychological/emotional problems that left me disabled and on CPP disability. I recieved no treatment for any of them. Although I joke about it, although I needed long term care to manage my recovery - learn to write my name, walk, swallow solid food and continually need help scheduling, taking medication, and eating and sleeping, and manage the pain - it clearly wasn't of interest to people who 'really needed' the care. The kind of care that would generate full time round the clock care with specialized and sophisticated high cost machinery and personnel involved. A potential home remodel or profitable ensconsement in a bed hooked up to machines, personnel, and costly pharmaceuticals that will be required for as long as the body can be sustained as a profitable resource that can be harvested. It has felt along every step of the way that I was not 'valuable enough' to recieve care. Like the thousands of 'assets' stored in long-term storage facilities for care and professionally sanctioned and billed for care. As a result the ensuing burden destroyed our very loving, healing and live sustaining relationship of 8 years as a result of a single health catastrophe. It tore apart our families and I am left in the position where I stay in a family members basement (child) and contribute what I can out of my $1000 monthly. Not only the end of the relationship but finding myself homeless at age 63 has taken a large toll on my mental health. To the extend that I have been told that my feelings and struggles have become a burden to every family member and the majority of my friends and they are no longer 'willing to bear the cost'. It has reached a point where I have spent the major part of the past week trying to find out how I can camp outside in a tent for the rest of the summer with my dog. Wheelchair camping in public parks was not what I planned after a life of showing up at work every day and doing everything asked of me to the point of complete and utter destruction of my health and well being. Given the emotional tensions as a result of the recent situation with Covid-19, if I do not act on the camping idea, the other family members will go instead. I have no real capacity to change the situation very much. I've contributed and sacrificed. I have worked my fingers to the bone to raise my family. I gave up my life, income and freedom as an adult to see them to maturity. I would do it again. But not like this. I have no idea how they will fare and the bleakness of the situation says to me that after all I have been through it is likely I will not see another year as a result of any kind of care let alone something long term. c'est la vie? cheers

273

Both of my parents were in LTC until both died last year. They were both living in the same home when they passed (but not on the same floors). Attendant care, especially at night and on the weekends, was minimal, with usually only two attendants per floor (each floor has two wings) and one nurse per two floors (during regular, weekday, working hours, there was usually one nurse per floor and, perhaps, three or four attendants per floor). Staff was constantly overloaded with caring for residents, often leaving them in soiled underwear (both my parents as well as others I witnessed) for lengthy periods of time, intermittently long delays in answering requests for assistance, overcrowded and slow mealtimes (one attendant, paid or not, helped to feed sometimes three or four residents who couldn't do it themselves), an elevator that was out of service much of the time (and took more than 24 to 48 hours to repair despite its urgency), and staff too busy to be able to attend to my mother, whose Alzheimer's condition often left her anxiously calling out for help, which wouldn't be answered for too long a time for her to feel safe.

274

I do not work in long-term care. I do have Child & Youth Worker experience in residential services and have had clients with various mental health backgrounds. I understand how long-term care and youth residential services have common skill sets and deserve better.

275

My father was receiving Home Care but was moved to a Retirement Home (Revera Valley Stream) for more care He has gone from Independent Living to Fully Assisted Living It is all the extra charges like his incontinence supplies and other items that add up We are lucky they have not been affected by Covid 19

276

for profit care is a death sentence

277

I have good friends who are using home care. They have had numerous difficulties, such as returning home from hospital with home care promised, but it didn‚Äôt happen, so the son of my friends had to help move and change his mother. No one should have to deal with this indignity. After several days of this, without the promised care showing up, they moved into a residence for a couple of weeks. In general, the local management of the system has often been very poor, the PSWs have been good, but overworked and terribly underpaid and were not provided with any masks etc until a few weeks ago.

278

I have a loved one who works in the field so I have experienced how it can effect caregivers

279

We have a private care home for my mom who has advanced dementia. The staff are wonderful but there are not enough of them and they are not well paid. This needs to change. No residence for dementia should be private. All should be either run by the government directly or be not-for-profit. Ratios should be mandatory. The only homes that should be allowed to be private, for-profit are those for independent seniors who do not require health care or limited personal assistance such as housekeeping and/or food service such as that offered at hotels.

280

It took 3 weeks of constant going to admin to have PSWs leave a drink that my immobile sister could reach. When she was dying, a family member said staff sent her to talk to me because she was fighting the same- leave a drink so her mother could reach it. It would be all over the news if a dog did not have access to water for hours but its ok to do this to the vulnerable. This was at one of the "best" homes in Ottawa. Without advocates, these seniors have a terrible end of life experience. There is NO CARE in Sienna Care Homes.

281

My grandmother is on a waitlist for long term care. She is currently in a retierement residence and paying an incredible amount for additional services as her health declines.

282

I know people who work in them

283

As this is part of my research, i have examined the organization of care in LTC. It is, as many have said, a type of assembly-line work. This is a problem as caregiving includes a emotional labour and is a relational activity. PSWs simply do not have the time to attend to this aspect of caregiving.

284

I have not experienced long term care myself, but have visited friends with dementia in long-term care facilities over the years. I have been impressed by the quality of care provided by the staff, many of whom were new Canadians. However, the salaries these wonderful caregivers received was pitifully low. Many of them had to have more than one job in order to survive. I strongly suggest that this situation must not be allowed to continue. The workers in long-term homes must be paid an adequate wage with full benefits including paid sick leave, vacation, maternity leave and pensions. This is a matter of urgency in the current pandemic but should remain provincial policy after the crisis is over. Thank you.

285

I used to work for Homecare in Ottawa. It was the worst employment I have ever had. Underpaid and overworked doesn't say it all. We had no training, and asked to do things we were not qualified to do, but needed doing. After some months, I quit that paid job, and offered my services through Senior Centers, where the client paid me directly out of pocket. I have been doing that work, for 25 years. Many times, when the client was unable to pay, I volunteered to do what needed to be done, because Homecare under OHIP was doing such a terrible job. Not because of the people doing the work, but the system itself did not allow them to do what needed to be done. Yes, after a few years, I got attached to my clients, and if they could not or did not pay me, I was very willing to work for free. The most satisfying and meaningful work I ever had. Once the client left their home, and went into a residence or a care home, and eventually most of them did. They did not last very long. They died from neglect, and lack of care, one way or another. I lost my last client, just before the COVID shutdown. From an infection he had in his foot, that Homecare did not take care of, and he ended up losing his leg at 96 years old. He survived the operation, and could not go back to his Home Residence, and went into a for profit full-Care Home. Within six months, he had bed sores that were infected to his bones, and he died. I have known about this horrible Home Care and Residence care for 25 years, and so did everyone else. It was in the newspapers more than once a week for years. Why was nothing done until the Army was called in?

286

I am concluding a previous form. When my husband had Homecare, we were subjected to insolence, invasion of privacy. Some PSWs were fabulous and others that should never work in this field. We witnessed "Care Co-ordinators", RNs that bullied & abused their PSWs. The Care Coordinator's employed by the province were in charge of ensuring the clients' care. This function of 'Care Coordinator was repeated by the sub-contractor, so the province is paying twice for the same function. Also, the Care Coordinator was often remiss in their duties. For example, Jessica Dionne (sp?) was assigned to us just before she went on Mat leave. She was obnoxious, and invited people into our home without permission. She also let it be known that "WeCare" did not have to arrive on time, if at all. Jessica Dionne should have her RN designation removed. She used her cell phone while driving (against the law) and she instigated harassment towards me. Details can be included with a phone call to 613-234-9580. I am serious! PSWs shouted in my home at 7am (after they were let in by intercom). Then some Mondays nobody arrived, and the next Monday 2 PSWs arrived, and they verbally fought. It's deeply disturbing! Eric currently lives at Valley Stream Manor. I miss him so much, yet I do not miss the atrocious behaviour of homecare PSWs. There needs to be an accreditation union to protect homecare PSWs and their clients. Sometimes, they each need protection from a bully RN "Care" Coordinator. When I complained about Eric's care (many reasons) Jessica Dionne started harassing me and our PSWs. She is like a bad cop and needs to be fired. She accused me of ridiculous behaviour and I have her threatening letters. Also, I can tell you her verbal threats. She is unionised and feels that she is beyond reproach, however, Jessica Dionne is like the cop that killed someone by putting her knee on the pulse of a man. Homecare is an economical option with the appropriate individual PSWs. People who speak the language, who do their job without supervision, who do not snoop, steal, etc. I asked many times, "Are your employees bonded?" and I never received an answer either way. Since many of these highly trusted employees are in the most intimate places of "one's" home, we would expect & hope that they are bonded. However, a lack of response over several years indicates, "No". Homecare is more economical and better for most clients, however, there is as little quality control for them as the PSWs in assisted-living places. I'd prefer to have Eric at home. However, the Province over several decades & political parties has made that impossible. Thank you for reading! Please call me at 613-234-9580, please!!!

287

LTC is sporadic, inconsistent and without any efficient inspections, and even less enforcement of what few regulations that exist. Prior to LTC, my husband had homecare.

288

Have worked in long term care facility for 11 years as a PSW. Constantly understaffed, sick calls frequently cannot be replaced. Even when a shift is "fully staffed" still not enough help to care for the residents beyond the bare minimum. We are overworked and overwhelmed. And despite what management says, we are not adequately supported. Burnout is a frequent reality for many of us

289

I am retired RN .My clinical experience has been a specialist in Geriatrics. I practised in Manitoba I received a Cerificate in Gerontology from University of Manitoba in 1984 founding member Manitoba Gerontological Nursing Association and National Association CNA Certification in Gerontological Nursing Master of Nursing moved to Ottawa Sept 2006 as Consultant for Longterm Care for College of Nurses Clinical Educator in LTC. I have been an advocate for improvement in care of the elderly for 40 years.

290

When my mother developed dementia, she had enough money that we were able to pay for 24/7 care for her. I am very glad that we did not have to rely on the public long term care system

291

Anyone who thinks making a profit from seniors is great is what's wrong with our capitalist society. No one should be gouged through their savings for care.

292

Could not afford all the care mother needed. So I went to her everyday to help with dressing, hearing aids, cleaning teeth, laundry, shopping, eating, paying bills, taxes,..... It was a fulltime job. Good thing I was able to retire.

293

My mother died 3 years ago in a senior's residence. She needed assistance in many areas of care in her last year and that is when we realized how overworked the wonderful PSWs were. Luckily, I was available everyday to help with dressing and feeding and meds. I will have no unpaid or family to assist me. I am planning to end my life before I get to that stage.

294

When the covid crisis hit half of the minimum wage caregivers walked off the job. Our hours of support were cut from 25/wk to 10/wk. We get no caregiver every other Sunday.

295

I am 78 years old and for the moment able to care for myself and my partner who is somewhat more vulnerable (heart valve problem) than myself. I know that at some point in the future, we may need home care or a move into long-term care. When I read about the conditions now exposed in expensive, for profit, care homes, I worry for our future. I do not want my partner or myself to be warehoused so that investors can make a profit.

296

My parents were both in long term care.not enough staff.

297

I am a private caregiver. I work in a retirement home and have worked in retirement and a locked down unit for dementia residents. I do not believe there is enough staff to give the care required.

298

Witnessed inconsistent care for both my aunt & mother-in-law involving long waits on the toilet & delays in being prepared for bed or other parts of the daily routine. Theft of valuables (jewelry) was also an unresolved issue involving my parents.

299

my aunt (was at peter d clark) passed away. When I visited her I would find her sitting on a commode over a garbage can having a bowel movement in her room where anyone could walk in rather than over the toilet in a bathroom. The staff would say it was "easier" for her this way. But I am guessing that it was so they could put another client in the bathroom at the same time. On another occasion I found my aunt sitting on a commode (that had dried up feces on it adn on the toilet and the wall begind it) naked in the bathroom when a male staff came in and told me he was washing her. When I asked why she wasn't covered, he stated that he asked her and that she was fine with it. I pointed out that she didn't have her hearing aids on (or her glasses for that matter) and that she couldn't hear without them and that she would never agree to be left naked like that. when i asked about the feces, he stated that it wasn't his job to clean it up, that it was housekeeping's job. When I couldn't find housekeeping, I proceeded to clean up the mess myself. I spoke to the nurse who was there and she provided stern feedback to the worker. On another occasion, I arrived to my aunt's room and she was very upset as there was a foul odour in the room and she had soiled herself a few hours earlier and noone had come to help change and clean her. These are just a few examples of what I saw.

300

I work in Healthcare and my involvement in advocacy related to my Union has drawn the issues in LTC to my attention.

301

My father passed away in 2014. https://www.ctvnews.ca/mobile/health/ctv-exclusive-ottawa-hospital-faces-allegations-of-patient-abuse-neglect-1.1854203/comments-7.523560

302

lack of staff lead to all the other issues mentioned above. Lack of staff and poor pay are a direct result of corporations withdrawing money from home operations to pay share holders

303

My loved one passed away last month in a private long term care home due to not being fed.

304

My grandfather was in one and he suffered from neglect and abuse in the facility. Even though my family tried to complain etc, nothing was done. The staff were over worked and did not have the time to properly care for each resident. It was more then heartbreaking.

305

I have a 97 year old aunt living at CSLD Montfort. I have not seen her since March. 30 + patients have died there with this covid 19.

306

While visiting an aunt I saw horrifying lack of care - her file clearly stated an allergy to pork and yet she would regularly be served a ham sandwich! She was blind and had to rely on her nose to catch kitchen errors. The house doctor insisted on changing her eye medication to something cheaper despite her having had bad reactions to other meds and just prior to her admittance finding one that worked. She was a former head nurse and would regularly point out to me errors in treatment. She was not able to get in and out of bed on her own but some fool changed the rules and took the bed rails away (dangerous for some patients but vital for her) - she rolled out of bed and was injured so badly she died a few days later. And that's just the bits I saw! Her home was also cited for having cockroaches everwhere and I'm sure my cousins could tell you much more about the travesty of her treatment. And this has gone on for years! I remember when I was a teen my grandfather's belongings were stolen from the home he lived in - you couldn't bring him anything because it would just get taken. As a harpist I have been into homes a couple times to play for residents and I have seen overworked staff struggling to care for people, staff without the language skills trying to help as best they could, staff run off their feet...it is a horror show.

307

Even the best institution cannot replace our own home. Even the kindest caregivers cannot replace the satisfaction and freedom that comes with autonomy. However, because of age, health, and/or need of varying degrees of assistance, it may become necessary. Unfortunately, in the province of Ontario, it has become quite obvious that a certain segment of our society sees a lucrative financial opportunity in building and owning long term care facilities. This would seem quite honourable to outsiders who do not realize that these wealthy and politically well-connected investors have no honourable intentions! It is only a scam, a miserable scheme to rob their clients by not truly giving them the care that they need and are paying for. We have all heard complaints over the years. However, what has been reported by the army personnel who found unimaginably horrific conditions. First of all, the owners, along with their board of governors, must be prevented from continuing their criminal activity, and they should be prosecuted in a court of law, as would any other criminal, and even though they have powerful political connections.

308

my wife has been in long term care for over five years. she has dementia. Initially she was at Pinecrest in Plantagenet. She had to be hospitalized twice and the outcome was that she was dehydrated. I initiated a formal complaint through the now defunct CCAC and requested a transfer to CARS in Clarence Creek. Fortunately she received it. I have some concerns about certain aspects of care at this institution but generally it is very good. You may contact me at 613 724-1559

309

Long term care should not treat our loved ones as if they are only a number in those that have to be cared for. They are mothers, aunts, uncles, fathers who have worked hard all of their lives and deserve respect and understanding. Their spoken wishes should be accomodated, if possible. Health workers (ie PSW's should be better educated and not just a 9 month course at a local college) and should not demand to be treated with the same respect and pay rate that nurses and doctors deserve. The government needs to make this a priority, not just on one day of the week when its mentioned in the media and forgotten the next. One day, any one could end up in long term care due to an accident that leaves you incapable of taking care of yourself and your family incapable of caring for you. If you tour enough of the LTC homes in Ontario; you'll be disgusted at what you see!! Can you imagine living there the rest of your life, if not, isn't it time to make those changes count?

310

My mother was in long term care in Ottawa and the building was old, dining facilities were over crowded and old. Fortunately my mother was in a single room but others on the floor were not and were doubled up or more. Lack of privacy, lack of home like environment, too many residents for number of staff. It was not a place where I wanted my mother to be but other family members overruled my wishes.

311

In December 2017, my step-father was taken to hospital with a broken hip and from there was not able to return to his assisted living home. Aside from the broken hip he also had dementia which only aggravated the situation. While looking for a long-term care home both my sister and I were amazed at the lack of available spaces as well as the lack of proper accommodation for the elderly, i.e., a single room of their own. Very luckily for us my step-father was a WWII veteran and also had a disability from the war so his situation became a priority. My family and I can't say enough about the care he received at the Perley & Rideau Veterans' Health Centre. This senior's centre should be the role model for all LTCs in Canada. Let's make it happen.

312

My father lives in a privately owned retirement home but gets extra care from Paramed (before Covid-19) for personal care. The only complaint I have is the lack of staff since I often get a call from them stating that they are are unable to come see my Dad. My father also has visits from Bayshore for urinary catheter care. I have no staffing or competence issues with them.

313

I‚Äôve worked in my current workplace, in Long Term Care as a Personal Support Worker for 11 years. I‚Äôm part-time and still years away from a full-time position. Before COVID-19 I had 4 jobs (1 part-time, 1 casual position), a private client who I would go on outings with twice a month, and a position as the secretary treasurer in my union. I went from working 40-60 hours a week to roughly 20 hours a week. It was a struggle, sometimes, balancing work, bills and family before COVID-19, in a work environment which I would be put into positions where I wasn‚Äôt always safe due to resident behaviours, understaffing, etc. Now, I have all those experiences, as well as the very real possibility of contracting this virus. Getting very sick, giving it to my family, dying. And I‚Äôm stuck between a rock and a hard place as I have to work, in an extremely unsafe environment, without proper PPE, just for the sake of keeping a roof over my head. The systemic issues with long term care have been festering for years. They‚Äôve only been amplified due to the current circumstances, and it angers me to no end how our federal/provincial governments as well as most people continue to ignore the crisis that our sector is in. I worry that I‚Äôll hit a breaking point and no longer be able to continue to work in my chosen career. As much passion and zeal as I have for my line of work. As much as I love what I do, and the difference I make in my residents lives. I just don‚Äôt know how much longer I can bear the thought of my residents, my co-workers and myself being ignored and thrown to the wolves. Please, we need help. And 3 months into this pandemic, nothing, not a single thing has changed for the better.

314

My mother is in a home, receiving excellent care, but there still needs to be improvement, re: more personal time per patient, more activities for them, there is not enough money for the activities. Bingo and exercise are ok but they need more to stimulate them. She is in a govt run home , much better than private, but there still needs to be more care, more money, more staff. My sisters and I still make sure that one of us is there every day, otherwise, my mother would be in worse shape. There are not enough nurses to help feed the residents, so the meals are rushed, if too slow, too bad. There just isn‚Äôt enough time for the staff to properly care for them.

315

The residents in my opinion spend far too much time alone, staff is too busy and short staffed

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