- by Anne Finlay-Stewart, Editor
In a season when the elderly and shut-in often draw our attention, the Owen Sound Hub is offering a series of articles to help our readers understand the fragility of the system that cares for our most vulnerable neighbours.
The most imminent situation is the threat of a work stoppage at CarePartners – the company that provides Personal Support Workers (PSWs) and Home Support Workers (HSWs) for many of those who need care at home in this area.
Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1 represents over 60,000 members in healthcare – PSWs, occupational therapists, nurses, paramedics and clerical staff in hospitals. Of the 2900 members in Ontario who are represented by SEIU, the majority are PSWs. They have been negotiating with CarePartners on behalf of their members since their contract ended March 31.
CarePartners knows that their caregivers do not want to go on strike, and are afraid of being locked out. The employer knows that the caregivers too are vulnerable – living paycheque to paycheque as it is, and unwilling to leave those they care for without supports.
Although we often think of the frail elderly as being those in need of care at home, a PSW may be looking after people of any age with mental or physical disabilities such as dementia, cognitive impairment or paraplegia. Some of those they care for are palliative, or may have no close family. PSWs help with feeding, toileting, dressing and bathing; implementing a care plan and watching for changes in health and well-being.
The starting wage for a personal support worker with CarePartners is $16.50/hour. Even those who have been employed the longest make no more than $19/hour. Although a condition of their work is to be available 8 to 10 hours a day, they may only be scheduled for 4 hours of paid work.
Home care PSWs are expected to maintain their own car, and are paid below home care standards for mileage, and for the travel from one home to the next in our rural area, they receive 1 minute of pay for every three kilometres driven. No one is forced to drive if they feel the weather conditions make it unsafe, but they know the people they care for depend on them and their consistent care. They are not paid if they don't work for any reason, yet their rent and insurance bills keep coming.
All caregivers understand the risks involved in going to work when they are not feeling well, but the same emotional pull of those who depend on them remains, and there is no sick pay or disability insurance, no pension, no retirement benefit.
There is a high turnover among home care PSWs. Not only is the work physically demanding and potentially dangerous, but it is heavy emotional labour, each and every day. It is not a sustainable job at current compensation rates,
The demand for PSWs in the region already outstrips supply as they are also needed in long-term care, retirement homes, and other care facilities. Some families employ PSWs directly. Appropriate care at home can be the one thing standing between a person staying in their home or being sent to a hospital or other institution. Some individuals and families are afraid of going public with their concerns, for fear that their services will be cut. This man was willing to tell his story in support of his wife's caregivers.
These services are paid for with your tax money. It is a common belief that private businesses inevitably provide services more cost-effectively, but the company must also pay its owners or shareholders a profit out of the care dollars provided by the government for each person who requires service.
If CarePartners is telling their employees the truth and there is not enough money being provided by the current government to adequately compensate those who provide this care for our most vulnerable neighbours, then we as citizens need to speak to our MPP Bill Walker, and to Minister of Health, Christine Elliott.
