OANHSS Applauds Government's Focus on Health Care Human Resources

OANHSS Applauds Government's Focus on Health Care Human Resources

Toronto (May 4, 2006) The Ontario government’s announcement of a new health human resource strategy is a concrete step toward addressing the critical shortage of health care workers in the province.

“The long term care sector relies heavily on front-line staff to care for residents,” said Donna Rubin, CEO of the Ontario Association of Non-Profit Homes and Services for Seniors (OANHSS). “This announcement includes strategies that will assist our members in attracting trained and qualified staff.”

OANHSS has long advocated for government action to address the labour shortage in the long term care sector.

“We are particularly pleased to see the government directing its efforts and resources toward public education campaigns aimed at developing the province’s health care workforce and the establishment of marketing and recruitment centre, including an employment portal to attract more health care workers to Ontario,” added Rubin.

In addition to attracting staff, retention is a major issue. “The government must couple the strategies announced as part of HealthForceOntario with initiatives to assist long term care homes in their efforts to create supportive and stable work environments to keep health care workers in our sector,” said Rubin. The Association sees a need to build multi-year stability into the funding model for homes to prevent cyclical hiring and layoffs from occurring, along with enhanced funding to allow homes to compete in the health care marketplace.

OANHSS is the provincial association representing not-for-profit providers of long term care, services and housing for seniors. Members include municipal and charitable long term care homes, non-profit nursing homes, seniors’ housing projects and community service agencies. Member organizations operate over 26,000 long term care beds and over 5,000 seniors’ housing units across the province.

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For more information:

Debbie Humphreys

905-851-8821 ext 233

C	ontact OANHSS

Ontario Association of Non-Profit Homes & Services for Seniors
7050 Weston Road, Suite 700, Woodbridge, Ontario L4L 8G7
(P) 905-851-8821
(F) 905-851-0744

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OANHSS members include not-for-profit providers of long term care, services and housing for seniors in Ontario.
Members include municipal and charitable long term care homes, non-profit nursing homes,
seniors' housing projects and community service agencies.