Government needs to step up for Seniors and Health Care Staff
Government needs to step up for Seniors and Health Care Staff
The Issue
By signing this petition - you are asking both the provincial and federal governments to implement the following standards of care for Seniors with Dementia:
1) Policies and guidelines for staff-to-patient ratios.
2) Implement a FOB system to allow for privacy and security within their own bedrooms.
3) Eliminate mixed gender wards.
According to the Alzheimer Society of Canada, over half a million Canadians are living with Dementia, a figure expected to rise by 66% over the next decade. This surge necessitates immediate policies to ensure the safety and dignity of our loved ones living in care facilities.
My mother was a victim of a violent assault, in a mixed-gender ward, at a Dementia care facility. The traumatic experience has not only left her with permanent injuries but it has highlighted significant issues within our healthcare system that puts vulnerable seniors at risk. She is not the first person to be injured while in care and sadly she won't be the last, until more preventative measures are implemented.
The following are a few headlines that have occurred here in Newfoundland.
2018 - Daughter claims mom scratched, bruised and cut
2023 - 82 yr old woman assaulted
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/woman-long-term-care-attack-1.6782813
2025 - My mother assaulted
https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-47-on-the-go/clip/16188396-long-term-care-homes-dementia-patients-part-2
One significant improvement we can make is implementing staff-to-patient ratios for Dementia care. Statistics from Healthcare Improvement initiatives across other countries have demonstrated that appropriate staffing levels lead to safer environments, reduced incidents of violence, and improved patient outcomes. We have care-giver to daycare ratios in place nationwide, why can't that be implemented for Seniors with Dementia? Inadequate staffing stretches resources thin, limits personal attention and care, and heightens the risk for accidents and assaults.
No family should have to endure the heartache and stress mine, and others, have experienced. A Dementia diagnosis is devestating enough. Having to put your loved one into care is equally crushing. It is my understanding that the current ratio where my mother is living, there are 8 staff for 30-38 patients, depending on the ward in question. That number is nowhere near optimum for patient safety, especially if that ward has a known aggressive and violent patient.
We urgently need to address patient intrusion into private bedrooms. Your bedroom should be a sanctuary where you can retreat and feel safe and secure. Multiple, repeated, unwanted intrusions (on the hour) is beyond ridiculous and irresponsible. We have suggested a FOB system to NL eastern Health. The bracelet fob key is a technologically sound and common security solution in modern memory care units. The system effectively addresses the problem of wandering patients entering others' rooms. A securely attached fob allows residents free and unhindered access to their own personal space, upholding their dignity and rights.
Wandering is managed, not restricted. Wandering residents are not locked in a room (which poses fire risks) but are rather prevented from accessing unauthorized rooms. The system allows bedroom doors to be closed and locked on the outside without requiring immediate supervision for authorized entry/exit. Staff can enter any room with their fob, and the specific resident can enter their own room hands-free. Besides protecting patients it also frees up the time staff spend having to re-direct patients out of bedrooms that are not their own.
Finally, there is a need to address the issue of mixed-gender wards. Seniors with cognitive impairments are more vulnerable to risks associated with shared accommodations, and separating wards by gender can greatly minimize potential dangers and ensure a safer environment for all residents. My mother is barely 5 feet tall and 85 pounds. The man who assaulted her is over 6 ft 2. Policies must change to address these concerns and prioritize resident safety above all.
By signing this petition, you are advocating for a safer, more dignifying care environment for our seniors with Dementia, as well as advocating for the health care staff who look after them. We urge the Canadian federal and provincial governments to establish mandatory staff-to-patient ratios specifically for dementia care, implement a bedroom FOB system to ensure privacy and security and eliminate mixed-gender wards.
Together, we can make a profound difference in the quality of life for our seniors and provide the care they deserve. Please sign and share this petition widely.
Sincerely,
Michelle Curtis
182
The Issue
By signing this petition - you are asking both the provincial and federal governments to implement the following standards of care for Seniors with Dementia:
1) Policies and guidelines for staff-to-patient ratios.
2) Implement a FOB system to allow for privacy and security within their own bedrooms.
3) Eliminate mixed gender wards.
According to the Alzheimer Society of Canada, over half a million Canadians are living with Dementia, a figure expected to rise by 66% over the next decade. This surge necessitates immediate policies to ensure the safety and dignity of our loved ones living in care facilities.
My mother was a victim of a violent assault, in a mixed-gender ward, at a Dementia care facility. The traumatic experience has not only left her with permanent injuries but it has highlighted significant issues within our healthcare system that puts vulnerable seniors at risk. She is not the first person to be injured while in care and sadly she won't be the last, until more preventative measures are implemented.
The following are a few headlines that have occurred here in Newfoundland.
2018 - Daughter claims mom scratched, bruised and cut
2023 - 82 yr old woman assaulted
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/woman-long-term-care-attack-1.6782813
2025 - My mother assaulted
https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-47-on-the-go/clip/16188396-long-term-care-homes-dementia-patients-part-2
One significant improvement we can make is implementing staff-to-patient ratios for Dementia care. Statistics from Healthcare Improvement initiatives across other countries have demonstrated that appropriate staffing levels lead to safer environments, reduced incidents of violence, and improved patient outcomes. We have care-giver to daycare ratios in place nationwide, why can't that be implemented for Seniors with Dementia? Inadequate staffing stretches resources thin, limits personal attention and care, and heightens the risk for accidents and assaults.
No family should have to endure the heartache and stress mine, and others, have experienced. A Dementia diagnosis is devestating enough. Having to put your loved one into care is equally crushing. It is my understanding that the current ratio where my mother is living, there are 8 staff for 30-38 patients, depending on the ward in question. That number is nowhere near optimum for patient safety, especially if that ward has a known aggressive and violent patient.
We urgently need to address patient intrusion into private bedrooms. Your bedroom should be a sanctuary where you can retreat and feel safe and secure. Multiple, repeated, unwanted intrusions (on the hour) is beyond ridiculous and irresponsible. We have suggested a FOB system to NL eastern Health. The bracelet fob key is a technologically sound and common security solution in modern memory care units. The system effectively addresses the problem of wandering patients entering others' rooms. A securely attached fob allows residents free and unhindered access to their own personal space, upholding their dignity and rights.
Wandering is managed, not restricted. Wandering residents are not locked in a room (which poses fire risks) but are rather prevented from accessing unauthorized rooms. The system allows bedroom doors to be closed and locked on the outside without requiring immediate supervision for authorized entry/exit. Staff can enter any room with their fob, and the specific resident can enter their own room hands-free. Besides protecting patients it also frees up the time staff spend having to re-direct patients out of bedrooms that are not their own.
Finally, there is a need to address the issue of mixed-gender wards. Seniors with cognitive impairments are more vulnerable to risks associated with shared accommodations, and separating wards by gender can greatly minimize potential dangers and ensure a safer environment for all residents. My mother is barely 5 feet tall and 85 pounds. The man who assaulted her is over 6 ft 2. Policies must change to address these concerns and prioritize resident safety above all.
By signing this petition, you are advocating for a safer, more dignifying care environment for our seniors with Dementia, as well as advocating for the health care staff who look after them. We urge the Canadian federal and provincial governments to establish mandatory staff-to-patient ratios specifically for dementia care, implement a bedroom FOB system to ensure privacy and security and eliminate mixed-gender wards.
Together, we can make a profound difference in the quality of life for our seniors and provide the care they deserve. Please sign and share this petition widely.
Sincerely,
Michelle Curtis
182
Petition Updates
Share this petition
Petition created on January 7, 2026