Wayne Samuelson
President
Ontario Federation of Labour

It’s about Dignity, not Diapers

Although the Minister of Health and Long Term Care has apologized for his incredible insensitivity about the critical problems in long term care it still doesn’t change the fact that these problems have existed for years and nothing has been done. The only action has been for the Minister to apologize.

By saying he’d put on an adult diaper and wear it to test it out exposed the Minister’s apparent lack of concern for some of the most frail and vulnerable people in Ontario. To be so flippant about a matter that robs our citizens, our family members of dignity shows an astounding lack of judgement and humanity.

Why in February 2008 is Smitherman looking into the problems in long term care when he and his government have known about all these problems for years?

The Ontario Federation of Labour has tried and tried since 2005 to get positive action on the issue of continence care policies and practices in long term care homes. In 2005 after touring the province and talking to front line workers in long term care we prepared and distributed a report, Understaffed and Under Pressure – A Reality check by Ontario Health Care Workers. The Report was sent to every Member of Provincial Parliament at Queen’s Park.

It was this Report that first cited the frustrations of exhausted long term care workers with the lack of resources and chronic understaffing in long term care facilities. The Report also noted the rationing of incontinence care products, staff shortages and the lack of any acceptable standard hours of care as systemic problems. Government response is chronically overdue.

The front line caregivers who care for our loved ones in Ontario nursing homes told us about this problem. They reported that continence products were being rationed to as little as one per resident per day; additional supplies are kept under lock and key and staff are receiving instructions to not change residents until the “line on the product’ has reach a certain mark – 75% full. It is unimaginable that this is occurring in Ontario long term care homes.

In October 2007 the OFL wrote to the major political parties calling on them to clearly commit their Parties to immediate, positive action to address and rectify this demeaning practice.

The OFL commissioned Toronto law firm Cavalluzzo Hayes Shilton McIntyre & Cornish for a “Legal Opinion Re: Validity of Continence Care Policies and Practices in Long Term Care Homes”. The Opinion called for further pursuit of this matter through the Long Term Care Laws, Human Rights Legislation and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

In November 2007 the OFL filed a Complaint with the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, specifically to the Director, Long Term Care Branch regarding non-compliance of incontinence care policies and practices in Ontario Long Term Care Homes as well as a Complaint to Barbara Hall Chief Commissioner, Ontario Human Rights Commission seeking measures under the Human Rights Code to inquire into, review and develop recommendations, strategies, measures, education and other programmes to address the systemic violation of the human rights of residents and workers in Long Term Care Facilities in Ontario.

After media stories about the critical situation in long term care facilities our office has been swamped with supportive comments from Ontarians who are both outraged with the lack of action on this issue and who shared with us personal stories involving their loved ones.

The solution to the issue requires regulating and enforcing minimum standards for staffing of 3.5 hours of care per resident per day that provides appropriate staffing levels to allow residents to receive continence care as guaranteed in the government’s legislation and policies.

The failure of the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care and the Ontario Human Rights Commission to respond to the very real needs and the very real dangers of these serious complaints is shocking. To have Minister Smitherman look into the matter by donning an adult diaper is disgusting.

This is about dignity Mr. Smitherman, not diapers.