Ceremony to remember residents killed in nursing homes

A group of Sudbury health-care workers are headed to Toronto tomorrow for a ceremony in memory of the 29 long-term care residents who have been killed by other residents in Ontario nursing homes since 2001.

2015 marks the 10-year anniversary of the Casa Verde Inquest into the tragic deaths (in 2001) of two long-term care residents at that home.

A minimum care standard for residents and improved staffing levels in long-term care homes are among the inquest jury's 85 recommendations that have never been implemented by the Ontario government.

The Ontario Health Coalition is organizing the memorial event to coincide with the International Day of Older Persons.

The event will include a memorial procession and memorial ceremony.

Those taking part are bringing pink carnations to the memorial as a symbol of hope that the province will act and legislate a four-hour daily care standard to make living in a long-term home safer for residents.

The Ontario Health Coalition said in a press release the provincial Liberals have failed to deliver on a promise of a minimum daily care standard for long-term care residents.

“Not only have the Liberals failed to deliver on that promise, but today many stakeholders from the (long-term care) sector agree, provincial funding is too low to provide adequate care for residents with complex conditions, including dementia and long-term care homes are making significant cuts to care, programs and staff,” the press release said.

“According to national health data, care and staffing levels in Ontario nursing homes are lower than the Canadian average.”