As a Personal Support Worker (PSW) in long-term care (LTC), I witness firsthand the vital importance of ensuring not only the health but also the safety of our residents. Our elderly and vulnerable population, who have given so much to society, deserve nothing less than to feel secure in the place they now call home. Unfortunately, current protocols do not include mandatory Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Checks (CPIC) for potential LTC residents. This is a significant oversight that puts at risk not just our elderly, but our youngest and most vulnerable population as well—children in daycare centers within these facilities.

The absence of CPIC checks leaves open a dangerous loophole that can allow individuals with criminal backgrounds into environments where they have immediate access to the frail and defenseless. According to the National Institute of Justice, elderly individuals are at an increased risk of being targeted for abuse. A Canadian study found that one in five seniors in Canada are subjected to some form of abuse, whether financial, emotional, sexual or physical. The introduction of mandatory CPIC checks is not just a precaution; it is an ethical necessity to protect those who cannot protect themselves.

Incorporating CPIC checks would align Long-Term Care Homes with the standards already in place for other vulnerable populations, such as in school and daycare settings, where individuals seeking to work or volunteer undergo mandatory background checks to ensure the safety of children. If it is necessary to protect our youngest, it is equally necessary to extend this protection to our elderly.

Additionally, a policy mandating CPIC checks can easily be implemented without causing significant delay in the application process. In fact, online resources from police services and federal agencies highlight efficient digital processes for conducting these checks. The slight delay introduced by CPIC checks is a small price to pay for the peace of mind and safety it affords to families and caregivers.

Please join me in calling upon our policymakers to revise current requirements for LTC applicants to include mandatory CPIC checks. Together, we can advocate for a safer environment that upholds the dignity and well-being of both our elderly residents and the children who visit and stay in these facilities. Sign this petition to demand that the safety of ALL vulnerable groups be prioritized and protected.