Understaffing chronic: HEU

Photo: NewsKamloops.com

More staffing is key to addressing resident aggression in long-term care facilities, the Hospital Employees Union says.

The union responded Wednesday to a report by B.C. Seniors Advocate Isobel Mackenzie, who recommends a review of staffing levels for residents with more complex care needs.

There is no "major fix," the report states, but there is a need for more accurate reporting.

Key findings focus on “high-incident” reporting facilities, where four or more incidents of resident-to-resident aggression occurred in the last year. Many residents in those facilities have higher care needs, including more diagnosed aggression behaviours, psychiatric diagnoses, and higher rates of antipsychotic drug use.

The report finds there were slightly fewer funded direct-care hours at the high-incident facilities. 

“While we would expect more complex residents translates to more care hours, unfortunately we don’t see this – and this concerns me,” said Mackenzie. “Even in facilities with the most complex residents and highest incidence of aggression, some fall below the minimum provincial guideline of an average of 3.36 care hours per resident per day and we must look more closely at what appropriate care hours are in these facilities.”

Health Minister Terry Lake acknowledged the issue and has called for a provincial review of care hours, she noted.

The union holds up the report as proof of longstanding issues. Understaffing has been a continual issue within the Interior Health region, it says. And resident-to-resident aggression has led to injury and death in some cases.

"The seniors advocate established earlier this year that four out of five care facilities are not funded to meet the province's minimum staffing guidelines," said HEU secretary-business manager Jennifer Whiteside.

"We agree with the advocate that a further review is required to establish what level of staffing is needed to provide safe and dignified care for residents."

Mackenzie also recommended more training for staff who work at these facilities.

HEU represents about 20,000 members working in seniors' care.

A 2014 survey of HEU care aides found that:

• More than half said they didn't have enough time to meet residents' needs.
• More than 70 per cent reported they did not have the time to comfort or reassure someone who may be confused, agitated or afraid.
• Nearly three-quarters said they're forced to rush seniors through basic care routines, including toileting, bathing, grooming and feeding.

Mackenzie's report recommends that resident-to-resident aggression be defined and tracked the same way across all residential care facilities and at a provincial level. In addition, the Office of the Senors Advocate (OSA) recommends a review of the adequacy of staffing for residents with more complex needs, specifically during busy times like dinner hours, when there is a noted spike in incidents.

– News Kamloops.com