May 14th, 2021
May 14th, 2021
HAMILTON — Paul Miller, NDP MPP for Hamilton East-Stoney Creek, is sounding the alarm about the urgent need to make home care services public and not-for-profit after a for-profit company repeatedly left a Hamilton man stranded during the pandemic.
“Much like for-profit long-term care companies, for-profit home care providers cut corners on staffing to pad their profits, which leaves vulnerable people stranded,” said Miller. “I was horrified to hear from Kenneth Hall about the appalling conditions he has been subjected to during the pandemic. Ontario needs to start to fix this crisis immediately.”
Kenneth Hall, 70, has lived with Multiple Sclerosis for 35 years, resides in a Hamilton retirement home and uses a wheelchair. Hall relies on help from personal support workers, and says a subcontracted for-profit home care provider has repeatedly left him stranded during the pandemic.
“When no one shows up as scheduled, it leaves me stranded in my wheelchair for the night, unwashed, and my leg bag and catheter unchanged,” said Hall. “I am not only speaking for myself. This also affects other people on their schedule who are many years older than me and so much more dependent on this support, leaving some to sit in soiled diapers for the night.”
Miller said horrifying situations like this will keep happening if the provincial government doesn’t commit to getting the profits out of home care.
“Kenneth’s story isn’t the first time we’ve heard about for-profit home care companies cutting corners at the expense of seniors and other vulnerable people, but we can and should make it the last time,” said Miller. “The NDP is fighting for an end to profits in home care services, so people like Kenneth can count on good quality of care as they age.”
The NDP’s call to get the profits out of home care in Ontario comes as part of a plan to overhaul seniors care in the province, which also includes hiring thousands of personal support workers and making their jobs full-time and well-paid.