Canada’s NDP Leader told members of the largest advocacy association for older people that for-profit care homes has made things worse for seniors.
Jagmeet Singh spoke to the CARP annual general meeting virtually, saying for-profit has no place in the healthcare system and in long term care.
He suggests it has made things worse for seniors and says his party is advocating for national standards of care, including regular inspections and appropriate levels of staff for the number of people in the home, and the workers being paid appropriately.
Singh says the quality of work is directly related to the quality of care.
He explains that if there are inadequate hours, inadequate staffing levels and if they aren’t making enough money in one home, it directly impacts seniors.
He notes that some of the providers received pandemic financial support, but still ended up paying out millions of dollars in dividends and then cut their staff.
The NDP Leader suggests that because Revera is owned by a federal agency, it would be a good first step for that company to no longer provide for-profit care.