HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2015-06-03, Page 22 News Record • Wednesday, June 3, 2015
Minimum staffing levels key to quality of life
Laura Broadley
Clinton News Record
Healthcare workers were
out picketing in front of
Queensway Retirement Liv-
ing in Hensall on May 25.
They were rallying sup-
port and informing the
public about the need for
the government of Ontario
to establish minimum staff-
ing levels and better per-
sonal support worker
(PSW) to resident ratios in
the long-term care sector.
Queensway is a private
long-term care and retire-
ment home. It has recently
seen a drop in resident
occupancy and a large
turnover in staff both of
which affect funding.
There are have been cuts
in many departments
within the home. Six PSWs
had their hours reduced
recently while there were
three complete layoffs.
Provincial Long Term
Care (PLTC) owns Queen-
sway and four other homes
in the Ontario. CEO
HURON
COUNTY-
PUBLIC
OUNTYPUBLIC NOTICE OF PESTICIDE USE
County of Huron & Municipality of Huron East
Huron County and the Municipality of Huron East intend to control noxious
weeds along the following County and Municipal roadsides under their
respective jurisdiction:
The Following County Road Sides North of Highway 8
• Benmiller Line & Lucknow Line (Co.Rd. 1), London Road (Co.Rd. 4) from
Clinton to Blyth, Base Line (Co.Rd. 8) from Clinton to Co.Rd.25, North Line
(Co.Rd. 12) from Seaforth to Co.Rd. 25, Londesboro Road & Kinburn Line (Co.
Rd. 15), Winthrop Road (Co.Rd. 17), Belgrave Road (Co.Rd. 20), Donnybrook
Line (Co.Rd. 22), Blyth Road (Co.Rd. 25) from Hwy. 21 To Blyth, Sharpes Creek
Line, Londesboro Road & Saltford Road (Co.Rd. 31) from Hwy. 21 to Hwy. 8,
Amberley Road - both sides (Co.Rd. 86) from Lucknow to Co.Rd. 4.
Anyone not wishing to have the roadside adjacent to their property treated
for noxious weeds should contact Bert Middegaal at the Auburn Patrol Yard
519-526-7231.
The Following Municipality of Huron East Road Sides in the Geographic
Township of Tuckersmith:
• East of Highway 4 and South of Highway 8: Front Road, Tile Road Centennial
Road, Stone Road Chislehurst Road, Oak Road, Hensall Road, Walnut Road,
Staffa Road, Roman Road, Short Horn Road, Vanastra Road, Sanctuary Road,
Kinburn line, Division Line, Hanna Line and Morrison Line north of Rogerville
Road.
Anyone not wishing to have the roadside adjacent to their property treated
for noxious weeds should contact Barry Mills at the Municipality of Huron
East 519-527-0160.
Note: It is the responsibility of the property owner requesting no spray to
contact the appropriate person identified above each calendar year prior
to the application of weed spray. Property owners requesting no spray will
be responsible for all noxious weeds on the road allowance adjacent to their
property.
The County of Huron and The Municipality of Huron East will be using one or a
combination of the following pesticides. Clearview Herbicide Reg.#29752, Active
ingredients Metsulfuron-Methyl and Aminopyralid (present as potassium Salt)
Or Escort Herbicide Reg.#23005 Active ingredient Metsulfuron-Methyl and
Overdrive Herbicide Reg.#30065 Active ingredients Difluenzopyr (present as
sodium salt) and Dicamba (present as sodium salt), or Milestone Herbicide Reg.
#28517, Active ingredient Aminopyralid (present as potassium salt) or Garlon
XRT Herbicide Reg. #28945, Active Ingredient Triclopyr (Present as butoxyethyl
ester) under the Pest Control Products Act. (Canada).
Commencing June 10, 2015 weather permitting and ending July 24, 2015
For information call:
Mike Alcock
County of Huron
Public Works Department
1-888-524-8394 ext. 3504
Steve Ford
Or Green Stream
1-905-510-1229
niKil1liI:111:1t:1EI010.1K8]ii
Christine Ozimek said that
while there was staff cuts
the ratio of 10 residents for
every PSW hasn't changed.
The PSWs have a network of
support staff as well, she
added.
SEIU Healthcare repre-
sentative, Mana Lindsay said
there are five PSWs on the
floor with 55 residents, leav-
ing the actual ratio 11 to 1.
Ozimek said as soon as
more beds are filled hours
will become available for
staff that have been laid off.
But that leaves PSWs with
less permanent work and
no guaranteed hours, said
Lindsay.
The long-term care home
has found it difficult to
meet the needs of the resi-
dents as there are more
complex issues and behav-
iours, said Lindsay.
Half of all residents cur-
rently in long-term care in
Ontario have a psychiatric
diagnosis like depression,
anxiety, bipolar disorder
and schizophrenia.
Another 46 per cent of resi-
dents display aggressive
behaviours, according to
the Ontario Long Term
Care Association.
The wellbeing and safety
of the seniors depends on
having a reliable number of
PSWs present. Funding was
made available for Behav-
ioural Standards Training
for situations when resi-
dents exhibit tense or
aggravated behaviours.
Lindsay claimed that PSWs
Laura Broadley Clinton News Record
Chief steward Nancy Young, SEIU rep Mana Lindsay and PSW
Peggy Smith picketing outside Queensway Retirement Living in
Hensall on May 25.
often cannot carry out this
training model properly
because there isn't enough
of staff.
The PSWs frequently
come early, work without
breaks or stay late to ensure
all their work is finished
because they're over-
worked. When staff cuts are
made it is inevitable that
something suffers, said
Lindsay.
"It's frustrating for staff.
They're dealing with
human beings. They take
pride in their work," Lind-
say added.
The PSWs typically start
their day at 6:30 a.m. and
are required to get the resi-
dents up for breakfast for 8
a.m. This is a logistical
nightmare, said Lindsay.
Less staff means that the
quality of life for seniors is
affected negatively. It can
be devastating for family
members to see their rela-
tives suffer because there
aren't enough PSWs on
shift, said PSW Peggy
Smith.
The recent cuts means
Smith and her coworkers
are running constantly
throughout their shifts.
"We're not machines.
We're not robots," Smith
said.
The time frame is too
small for the workload
involved, she added. The
worst part for PSWs is not
having enough quality time
with the seniors they care
for on a daily basis, she
added.
OFFICE HOURS
The Office Hours for
The Clinton News Record are as follows
Mondays - 9am - 5pm
Tuesdays - CLOSED
Wednesdays - 9am - 5pm
Thursdays - 9am - 5pm
Fridays - 9am - 5pm
lowsCIlton
Record
53 Albert St., Clinton, ON
PH: 519-482-3443
www.clintonnewsrecord.com