Health-care aides say overwhelming work conditions at Winnipeg care home putting residents at risk
CBC
Some longtime health-care aides are speaking out about what they describe as overwhelming work conditions at Holy Family Home, pointing to repeated instances of understaffing they said put residents and employees at risk of physical and mental harm.
Eight aides from the 317-bed, non-profit personal care home in Winnipeg's North End said they're coming forth as a group in hopes that solidarity will protect them from being sanctioned or losing their jobs.
The aides said they're assigned to 20 residents each while working the evening or night shift, but when a co-worker goes on break, that ratio goes up to 40 residents per aide.
"We're doing our best," said Melda Macalino, sobbing as she recounted her experiences.
She's now on disability leave, after working at Holy Family for 24 years.
Macalino said she developed severe depression after facing non-stop pressure on the night shift.
She said residents — who include seniors and others requiring long-term care — ring a bell when they need help. Macalino said she'd often have five to 10 residents sounding the bells at the same time.
"The bells keep ringing and you cannot leave the residents until you finish [changing them]," Macalino said, adding that the notification system makes it impossible to tell who most urgently needs help.
Macalino said she cares deeply about her clients, but residents often lashed out at her after waiting long periods for assistance.
"Even if it's hard, you have to do it, because no one will look after them."
The aides said the risk of injury to residents goes up the longer they wait, since many will try to get out of bed and take care of their needs themselves.
People sometimes start screaming as they wait, which can lead to arguments among residents, all of which wakes others up, the aides said.
"And if something happens, you're the one who will be blamed, because you're the one what's on the floor," said Macalino.
Her colleagues shared similar frustrations around the late shifts at Holy Family, and say their calls for change have gone unanswered.
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