Staff-strapped Canadian Nursing Homes Turning To Immigration

Nursing homes on Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.) are having to rely on immigration to fill staff positions, according to an article on the CBC website.

P.E.I. Nursing Home Association Bob Nutbrown told the committee staffing for long-term care facilities is a national issue.

"While all of our homes have promoted local employment, there is insufficient interest at the local level in this industry. We encourage the government to take steps to increase local interest from workers, and at the same time to promote the necessary immigration,“ he said.

Also, Nutbrown said, while facilities on the Island have been successful at keeping coronavirus out, he said the homes were not built for dealing with pandemics. They need to build more isolation rooms.

Meanwhile, Florida public health experts tracking the spread of COVID have pointed to nursing home staff members working at multiple facilities as a factor, according to a New York Times article.

At Oasis Health and Rehabilitation Center in Palm Beach County, for instance, there have been infections whose origins have not been clearly identified. 

The center is connected, via shared staff, to 25 other “high-risk” facilities that have also had outbreaks whose origins may be staff-related, the article said.

Read the full CBC article.