Three quarters of BC care aides not happy: survey
Posted October 17, 2014 12:08 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – A recent survey shows three-quarters of BC’s 15,000 care aides feel they are at risk when trying to provide quality care to nursing home residents and patients.
The survey, conducted by Viewpoints Research, finds they feel forced to rush through basic care for the elderly and disabled.
Bonnie Pearson with the Hospital Employees’ Union says many of those asked say they don’t have enough time in a typical shift to meet proper needs.
“We need to have enforceable staffing levels. We need to ensure that the proper staffing levels are there, so that seniors get the care they need,” she says.
Frustration levels are high, says Pearson, when the caregivers feel the elderly are being short-changed. Plus, she points out, there are hazards inherent in the job.
“It takes an emotional toll on people who provide the care. We have high injury rates for these types of employees. Over 80 per cent report having experienced some kind of violence at work.”
