News & Events
November 9, 2009
OPINION/EDITORIAL
In 2004 Ginette Petipas–Taylor, who was then the Chairperson of the New Brunswick Advisory Council on the Status of Women, wrote an article that was published in the Times and Transcript. It was titled CRISIS IN HOME SUPPORT SERVICES – IGNORE IT AT YOUR PERIL. The article described the minimum wage pay rates, few if any benefits, lack of reimbursement for travel time and mileage traveled and the difficult working conditions faced by employees providing home support services in New Brunswick 95% of whom are women.
That article was published 5 years ago. Let’s review what has changed since that time. Wages are still very low, there are few if any benefits, and there is little or no compensation for travel time and mileage traveled. Working conditions continue to be difficult for employees, mostly women, who provide home support services in New Brunswick. In short little or nothing has changed.
A recent survey of home support agencies showed that over 500 additional employees are needed in order to meet the current demand for home support services. This would be great for job creation yet the industry is unable to attract employees due to the conditions described above. The number of employees required will only grow as New Brunswick’s population ages. Are we going to crisis manage or make the necessary changes to be prepared for the future?
The New Brunswick Home Support Association (NBHSA) has been leading the charge to get the funding required to change and improve the home support industry in New Brunswick. The Department of Social Development has been supportive of our efforts.
However, the key piece of the puzzle that is missing to solve this challenge is the political will to provide the necessary funding. It is no secret that increased funding will be required in order to solve this crisis. The recruitment and retention challenges have been studied and recommendations made for over five years. It is time for action.
Who should take this action? Two of the seniors’ federations, the New Brunswick Advisory Council on the Status of Women and the Premiers Council on the Status of Disabled Persons have written letters in support of improving home support services. The Womens Issues Branch has included Home Support Workers in their work on pay equity. The governments own Long Term Care Strategy quotes seniors as saying they wish to remain in their home for as long as possible. Most home support workers would be below the poverty line and the government has a poverty reduction strategy. Why, with all this, are the changes necessary not moving forward at a rapid pace?
Some feel it is because home support workers are women and politicians are not. Some feel it is because government looks at home support as an expense. Yet, without home support, people would end up in more costly institutions such as nursing homes or hospitals. There is already over 700 New Brunswickers on the nursing home waiting list. It is estimated that many of these people are in hospitals taking up over 20% of the hospital beds available in New Brunswick. This contributes greatly to hospital over-crowding. Could some of these people stay in their homes with home support? Some feel it is because the budget for home support is controlled by the Department of Social Development and not the Department of Health as it is in every other province. Some or all of these may be the problem. Who has the answers?
The consequences of inaction are clear. As Ginette Petipas–Taylor stated ‘CRISIS IN HOME SUPPORT SERVICES – IGNORE IT AT YOUR PERIL. The recruitment and retention crisis in home support must be solved or the industry will not be sustainable.
The home support industry is vital to the health and happiness of the citizens of New Brunswick. Unlike some industries it will not be leaving New Brunswick if costs are lower elsewhere. In fact it will grow dramatically in order to meet the demands of our aging population. We need your help and support to ensure that when you, your family or relatives are in need of home support the industry will be there for you. Hopefully for New Brunswickers our cause will not be lost in the debates about NB Power and H1N1.
You can make a difference. To learn more about the process or to get involved, please visit the New Brunswick Home Support Association’s website at: www.nbhsa.ca, email us at info@nbhsa.ca or call 1-888-562-8333
Sincerely,
Bob Price
President – The New Brunswick Home Support Association
