‘Thank you for going public, because we cannot’: home care workers back widower’s calls for change
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 23/02/2023 (974 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Manitoba home care workers are speaking out, appalled by “heartbreaking” delays that kept a dying woman from receiving in-home palliative service until it was too late.
A group of home care employees drafted an open letter Thursday, to express their condolences upon learning of the Feb. 18 pancreatic cancer death of Katherine Ellis, 62.
The Winnipeg woman had waited for palliative home care services for five weeks, after being released from hospital in December. The first such worker showed up more than two days after she died.
MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Eric De Schepper said he was touched by the letter, and it encourages him to keep advocating for change — as he promised his common-law wife Ellis, who passed away last week.
The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority has blamed widespread staff shortages for delays in arranging care.
Ellis’s spouse, Eric De Schepper, has spoke publicly about the long wait. Only after media coverage brought a spotlight on the issue were care arrangements made for Ellis, he said.
“Thank you for going public, because we cannot,” a group of home care workers wrote in the open letter to De Schepper — a copy of which was provided to the Free Press.
“Please know that you are not alone and that this is not an isolated case. Many of us have encountered this situation and are haunted by the faces of grieving families who were left with the responsibility of telling us they no longer need our services.”
De Schepper said he was touched by the letter, and it encourages him to keep advocating for change — as he promised Ellis.
The case is shocking but not a revelation, experienced home care workers (speaking under the condition of anonymity for fear of employment repercussions) told the Free Press.
“This is no surprise to me; this is the home care program. I’m just glad somebody actually went to the media about it, because that’s the only way our voices can be heard about what’s really going on with home care,” said one worker located outside of Winnipeg.
Several others interviewed Thursday described chronic delays and long waits for care, including among palliative clients.
“It’s just not the one case, there are many such cases,” one Winnipeg-based worker said. “It is, like, heartbreaking.”
They pointed to mismanagement, “scheduling horrors,” and communication problems with managers and administrators as reasons for such delays.
Lisa Tarko, a former home care worker who now uses such services herself, said she is afraid for her future, particularly when it comes time for her to need palliative care.
A friend — and fellow former home care worker — died of colon cancer last summer. The 65-year-old woman was unable to die at home because she didn’t have consistent care, Tarko said.
“She came out of the palliative ward at St. Boniface (Hospital) to die at home. And she didn’t even last a week, because she had no services.”
The woman was then admitted to Riverview Health Centre, Tarko said.
A WRHA spokesperson was unable to say how many palliative patients are currently facing long waits for home care after being released from hospital.
Palliative patients are prioritized, the spokesperson stated, but wait times vary — from two days for nursing services to an average of 30 days for other services.
“We appreciate the frustration for clients and their family members/caregivers. Our goal is to provide safest, and highest-quality home care to our clients that need it. Our staff are hardworking and dedicated people, and we thank them as they continue to provide compassionate and extraordinary care to our patients, clients and residents during these stressful times,” the spokesperson stated.
Several of the workers interviewed described their own experiences of showing up for a routine home care appointment after the client, unbeknownst to them, had died. Some described Ellis’s case as an extreme example.
“This is not abnormal but usually the client had care,” said one source. “Why did it take so long to get this client help?”
Poor working conditions, including constant pressure to do more with less while trying to care for seniors and vulnerable individuals, are to blame for staff shortages, the workers said.
They spoke of workers leaving for private agencies, higher-paid health-care positions or seeking out jobs in entirely different industries.
All of the home care workers interviewed said they are still waiting for some owed retroactive pay and scheduled paid breaks, as per their new contract ratified in September.
katie.may@winnipegfreepress.com
Katie May is a multimedia producer for the Free Press.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Home care workers’ open letter
Dear Mr. Eric De Schepper,
On behalf of a group of concerned home care workers (HCAs and home support workers) we offer our deepest condolences. Thank you for going public, because we cannot.
The home care program has the potential to help many people remain in their homes as long as possible, which the vast majority of people want, while saving millions in tax dollars. Please know that you are not alone and that this is not an isolated case. Many of us have encountered this situation and are haunted by the faces of grieving families who were left with the responsibility of telling us they no longer need our services.
As front-line direct service workers, we are committed to our jobs and love and respect our clients and their families. We stand behind you 100 per cent in your quest for justice and accountability in memory of your wife, Katherine Ellis.
Dear Mr. Eric De Schepper,
On behalf of a group of concerned home care workers (HCAs and home support workers) we offer our deepest condolences. Thank you for going public, because we cannot.
The home care program has the potential to help many people remain in their homes as long as possible, which the vast majority of people want, while saving millions in tax dollars. Please know that you are not alone and that this is not an isolated case. Many of us have encountered this situation and are haunted by the faces of grieving families who were left with the responsibility of telling us they no longer need our services.
As front-line direct service workers, we are committed to our jobs and love and respect our clients and their families. We stand behind you 100 per cent in your quest for justice and accountability in memory of your wife, Katherine Ellis.
At one time, home care was a team effort where front-line workers and administration would work respectfully together to make sure our clients needs were met. We are no longer a team.
Front-line workers are no longer respected. We are a cog in a time-slot mechanism.
Home care is not a factory. We are the people with the privilege and responsibility to take direct care of vulnerable human beings. The individuals who do not understand or respect the humanity behind this dynamic have no business making decisions about this sacred job.
There is incompetencies from the top down in a hierarchy that should be a team. Our major concerns, observations and suggestions to improve patient care and prevent harm and even tragedy has been met with disrespect and dismissal.
We have reached out to MPs, MLAs, the CEO of the home care program, numerous WRHA top managers, directors of access centres, team managers and supervisors. It makes us question if the people in power, who we should trust and count on, are apathetic or heartless.
Once again, Mr. De Schepper, we offer our deep condolences. But along with our thoughts and prayers, we hope to offer suggestions and solutions to prevent administrators or politicians from taking the care out of home care.
Katie May is a multimedia producer for the Free Press.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
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