For Immediate Release
February 7, 2025
NL NDP Leader Jim Dinn (St. John’s Centre) says the recently released Long-Term Care (LTC) and Personal Care Home Review highlights what workers have been saying for years: burnout, poor management, and a lack of resources are putting both staff and residents at risk.
“Long-term care workers are feeling demoralized. They’re overworked, underpaid, and struggling with high turnover, poor work-life balance, and even racism in the workplace,” said Dinn. “This is the same pattern we see in hospitals, clinics, and across the healthcare system. The common thread? A government that refuses to listen to its workers.”
The report points to inconsistencies in management across LTC facilities, a lack of coordination between long-term care, primary care, and acute care, and the urgent need for dementia care training as the province faces a growing number of dementia cases.
“Government is not prepared for what’s coming, and without immediate action, it’s only going to get worse,” said Dinn. “Workers in long-term care have been raising the alarm, and they need a government that will listen and act. Not only for the workers, but for residents in LTC. Dignity in care starts with dignity in work.
“I am pleased to see that this report includes the importance of keeping seniors together in LTC. We continue to see the pain and stress it causes senior couples who are forced apart due to their level of care,” said Dinn. “I have been presenting a petition on this for years, and it is past time that government address this and ensure that seniors stay together.”
Dinn says the key to fixing long-term care, and the broader healthcare system, is to respect workers, improve management practices, and ensure frontline staff have the resources they need to do their jobs effectively.
“The government’s own report confirms what workers have been telling them all along,” said Dinn. “It’s time to stop ignoring the frontline. Listen to your workers. Give them the support and leadership they need to provide the quality care residents deserve.”
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For further information, contact Stephanie Curran, Media and Communications Officer, NDP Caucus at 330-0328 (o), or stephaniecurran@gov.nl.ca
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