The staffing levels in personal care homes need to be increased.

On Wednesday May 11, in Question Period I asked when the government will increase staffing levels in personal care homes in Manitoba. A lengthy report by the Manitoba Association of Residential and Community Care Homes for the Elderly shows that staffing levels should be increased from 3.67 hours of care per resident per day to 4.1. Several weeks after my question, the government finally acted, but only increased staffing levels of 3.8, which is too low.

Personal-Care-Home Regulations and Funding
Stevenson Report Recommendations

Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Madam Speaker, violence in personal-care homes, as described by Gretchen Marasigan-Esteva, is occurring in part due to a shortage of staff.

The Stevenson report called for staffing levels and salaries to be appropriate to the complexity of current and future residents. This means Manitoba needs to move from 3.6 to a minimum of 4.1 paid hours of care per resident per day, as the March report demonstrated.

Though this deficit has existed for many years, the NDP did not act and the government of today has not yet implemented the changes, even though it was a Stevenson report recommendation.

When will the Province ensure that changes needed in regulations and in funding are made?

Hon. Scott Johnston (Minister of Seniors and Long-Term Care): I appreciate the member's question.

The member is accurate. This government has adopted all 17 recommendations of the Stevenson report, and it is our intention to initiate all of those 17 reports. Staffing is part of that. Bedside service is part of that.

However, there is going to be a process of negotiation to be able to accomplish that, and that's exactly what we are proceeding with. Good news will come.

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