Picture via Lanark County website
Long-term care homes have historically been underfunded and understaffed, and it’s only been exemplified since the pandemic, Director of Lanark Lodge Carey Duncan says.
What’s now compounding the problem from their end is nursing agencies, which allow more schedule flexibility and higher pay and seeing more people opt for that route.
Private and public healthcare workers in Ontario have managed to coexist in the past, but Duncan sees the shift has started.
Duncan says agency utilization is a problem they’ll continue to face until more people working in the sector and in long-term care. She also feels regulations need to be put in place around costings agencies charge long-term care homes.
That’s in part why she says they’ve shifted to an education mentality at the Lodge, offering paid consolidations for their staff and preceptorship.
But also getting in on the grassroots level.
You can hear our full conversation which covered a variety of topics with Duncan as well as Perth mayor and chair of community services Judy Brown here.
Story by Grant Deme
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