Source: The Peterborough Examiner [Letter to the Editor]

Re "St. Joseph's workers defend level of care" (July 24) -

We are writing to make a positive statement on the care in our local long term care homes. We thank Dr. Jim Liston for the excellent care he gives to his patients in Fairhaven Home and for speaking out about the daily challenges we face and the extras we do. We agree with Dr. Liston, that caregivers are giving good care, and that the negative sometimes can overshadow the good work being done.

But having said that, be aware that there is an alarming, insufficient amount of funding allotted for nursing care in long term care (LTC).

Fairhaven prides itself on the kindness and caring of its RNs, RPNs and personal support workers (PSW). But, with eight units of 32 residents who need medium to heavy care, and as people are staying at home longer and are at a higher level of care when they enter LTC, more funding is definitely going to be needed to ensure that residents get the level of care they deserve. Where from? Front line workers -personal support workers.

Nursing consists of many roles, not just care-giving. We are family to those who have none, or whose families can't regularly visit. We are the first people they see in the morning and the last they see at night. Long term care facilities are not only

home to senior citizens. We are home to young people too. Thirty, 40, and 50 year olds with special needs also live here.

Recent government increases to LTC have been for registered staff. However, an analysis of needs at Fairhaven clearly demonstrates the need for more PSWs. Most of us have worked in LTC for a few years-plus, and have seen changes in increased workloads and inadequate staffing levels. We leave at the end of our shifts feeling unfulfilled at not being able to accomplish all we needed to do.

People -please let this be a wake-up call for additional funding. Let's help residents and staff as they speak out now about government funding. We urge people to request government to be flexible with funding allocations so LTC homes can decide for themselves what nursing staff they need and develop staffing patterns to meet residents' needs. Let's make LTC funding the number one issue in the next election. We ask everyone to please write the Minister of Long Term Care and their MPs and MPPs today.

ROSE COONES FRANCOISE ROBERT

Personal Support Workers Fairhaven Home