Wage top-ups, paid student practicum positions provided
Alberta is investing $7.3 million per month to address wage increases requests, staffing troubles and other costs of running continuing care facilities amid the pandemic.
With the fund, the province is increasing health-care aides staffing levels and providing a wage top-up of an additional $2 per hour for health-care aides. The province will also open up to 1,000 paid student practicum positions to fast-track certification and get more staff into continuing care facilities as well as advancing $24.5 million to operators to help address immediate cost pressures due to COVID-19.
“Health-care aides are integral to the well-being of residents – and they play a critical role across the health-care system. We cannot overlook their contribution, and we must not lose sight of how the pressures they face can directly impact the functioning of entire facilities,” said Tyler Shandro, minister of health. “We are confident that these measures will make a difference not only to health-care aides, but to the residents of these facilities who deserve quality and compassionate care.”
Alberta recognized that continuing care facilities have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, which is why strong restrictions are in place to address the spread of the virus.
“These restrictions are necessary to help protect lives, but they also place financial and emotional burdens on staff, residents and operators,” said the government.
