By Shaun Penner

Relief for care homes

Province to hire more health-care aides for continuing care facilities

Apr 20, 2020 | 4:53 PM

Health Minister Tyler Shandro announced more measures to stem the tide of COVID-19 outbreaks at continuing care facilities in the province on Monday.

In an effort to address pressures on continuing care facilities, increased funding will be coming in the next few days to hire additional 1,000 full-time care aides to address the higher workloads caused by the pandemic. The province will also be topping up the pay of health-care aides by $2 per hour.

The province will also be fast-tracking health-care aide students through their programs using paid practicums, which could mean an additional 1,000 hires.

“Health-care aides are integral to the well-being of residents – and they play a critical role across the health-care system. We cannot overlook their contribution, and we must not lose sight of how the pressures they face can directly impact the functioning of entire facilities,” said Shandro, in a release. “We are confident that these measures will make a difference not only to health-care aides but to the residents of these facilities who deserve quality and compassionate care.”

It was also announced Monday that the province will be forwarding an additional $24.5 million to operators of care facilities to address immediate cost pressures.

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Shandro announced that the province is investigating outbreaks at 29 facilities, which have led to 38 deaths among residents at such care homes as of April 20.

This includes the outbreak at Manoir du Lac in McLennan, where seven residents have died as of April 20. It was announced on Friday Alberta Health Services had taken over operations at that facility from Integrated Life Care because public health orders were not being fully followed, according to Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw.

A lack of staff, staff working “extremely” long hours and improper screening were among the issues addressed by Dr. Hinshaw.

(With files from Chris Brown, CHAT News)