Our parents and grandparents built this province, they cared for us when we were young and vulnerable. We have a duty to take care of them as they age. COVID-19 has revealed what many family members and seniors' advocates have raised for years: the bitter truth about the harrowing conditions of long term care homes and the state of seniors' care in our province. Government after government has failed to provide elders in the most vulnerable time of their lives with the care and resources needed for a safe, protected and quality living environment.
Doly made this her own mandate, a commitment and fought relentlessly in Queen’s Park to address the issues of seniors' care. She has raised the issues of lack of safety inspections in long-term care homes and fought for a minimum standard of care including cleaning and feeding. Doly has been working hard to make sure that LTC residents, their families and staff have the support they need. She fought for sufficient and equitable PPE supply, access to vaccination and an increased level of care for local seniors.
Doly is committed to ensuring that seniors' care is publicly funded, adequately staffed and that care workers have fair wages and job security. She will continue to fight and ensure that the health and wellbeing of the elderly are prioritized. The ONDP plan invests a record amount into home care, and transforms the patchwork, privatized and unreliable system into a new, public and not-for-profit system. This plan includes culturally responsive home care, hiring and training staff who can communicate with seniors in their own language and supporting elders in a way that respects their culture.
Doly and the ONDP have a plan to:
- Overhaul home care to help people live at home longer
- Make all long-term care public and not-for-profit
- Build small, modern, family-like homes in all parts of the province
- Staff up with full-time, well-paid, well-trained caregivers
- Make family caregivers partners, not just visitors
- Create affirming care that is culturally responsive and inclusive
- Clear the wait list so nobody has to wait years for a bed, and even longer for a culturally appropriate home
- Guarantee new and stronger protections, including comprehensive inspections and a Seniors’ Advocate
Our seniors deserve to live with dignity.