The chief of the British Columbia Care Providers Association has called for a series of measures to help the province deal with the second wave of COVID-19.
Terry Lake said the virus has returned to the province “with a vengeance” when commenting on the release of a new report commissioned by the BCCPA.
He said his staff should be given extra pay and provided with mental health programs to “alleviate employee burnout.”
“In BC we must do, and be seen to be doing, everything we can to support and protect our most vulnerable seniors during the global pandemic,” Lake added.
“Regrettably, COVID-19 has returned to our province with a vengeance during the second wave, so we are asking everyone – including family caregivers, staff on the front lines, government, public health officials, labour unions and others in the community – to embrace all the measures needed to bend the curve and stop the virus from spreading further.”
The report itself, titled “Review of The Response To COVID-19 In Seniors Care and Living,” made 10 main recommendations.
They are:
The Ministry of Health provide an overarching pandemic plan with clear lines of responsibility and for communication across the continuing care sector, inclusive of publicly subsidized and privately retained home health and independent living.
Health authorities adopt a standardized pandemic response plan for the continuing care sector, inclusive of publicly subsidized and privately retained home health and independent living, which clearly outlines what happens in the event of an outbreak.
Continue the single site order policy for staffing long-term care and assisted living residences.
Create additional capacity and more suitable environments that ensure reduced transmission of infectious diseases among residents with advanced dementia and socially inappropriate behaviours.
The Provincial Health Officer to establish rapid testing alongside screening protocols for residents and staff in long-term care, assisted living, and independent living.
Address critical staff shortages by expanding training for new and established care staff.
Maintain funding for wage levelling and extend to staff across the continuum of care in order to provide equitable pay for frontline staff.
Support psychological health and safety programs for workers, residents/seniors and families.
Ensure the timely dispersal of allocated per-bed funding advances to cover provider pandemic-related expenditures for PPE, staffing, and other requirements.
Establish robust protocols for safe and frequent social contact between residents and family members, in collaboration with SafeCare BC. Strengthen connections between families and seniors through the use of tools and technology.
The report was created by health consultants Howegroup using a mixture of interviews, roundtable discussions and a survey.
“Though many strong pandemic response measures by the Ministry of Health are already underway, we see many more opportunities to improve the lives of our seniors and the people who care for them,” said Lake.
“Rapid testing protocols and systems are a must, as are clear guidelines on how we can keep essential family caregivers safely connected to their loved ones. Furthermore, we need to support staff through the timely dispersal of funding and pandemic pay, and by providing mental health and safety programs to alleviate widespread employee burnout.”
