François Legault was “shocked” to read on the front page of the Journal that more than a thousand seniors have lost their lives in the past two years following a fall in a CHSLD or a residence for the elderly. The solution, according to him, lies in particular in the massive recruitment efforts deployed since the first wave.
• Read also: More than 1,000 seniors died of a fall in two years, accidents often preventable
• To read also: She dies of an avoidable fall in CHSLD at 96 years old
Back in the room for a last three-week sprint before the end of the 42nd legislature, the parliamentary leader of the Parti Québécois, Joël Arseneau, said that his coffee “went through”, Tuesday morning, when he saw the front page of the Journal .
“1027 people is more than one senior per day for two years. (…) How many more falls, how many coroner’s reports before the CAQ government understands that we must reinvest in home care and allow safe ratios, ”raised the PQ spokesperson in terms of health.
“It also shocked me to see so many falls this morning that end badly,” retorted the Prime Minister, pointing out that $1.9 billion has been invested in home care and services over the past four years.
Workforce challenge
“The challenge is to find staff,” said Mr. Legault. Since the first wave of the pandemic, 10,000 attendants have been recruited, bonuses have been offered to bring nurses back into the network and a campaign to train more has been launched.
“But there is a minimum of three years to train a nurse in our CEGEPs,” recalled the chief caquist.
According to him, the appointment of a responsible person in each CHSLD and the construction of seniors’ homes will also make it possible to improve things.
Seniors Minister Marguerite Blais agreed.
“It’s disturbing,” commented Ms. Blais, reacting to the Journal report.
“Smaller environments will make it much easier to be able to provide care and monitor how people will be able to move around,” believes Ms. Blais.
“But there will always be falls, warned the minister. Security has to be part of the solution.”
