Good afternoon and thank you very much for having me here today.
As was just said, I'm Miranda Ferrier. I'm the CEO of the Canadian Support Workers Association. We represent over 67,000 personal support workers and support workers, which have different names in almost every province, across our wonderful nation.
Seniors and disabled Canadians in Canada have never been at greater risk to their overall safety both financially and societally. These risks are unusual in that they transcend socio-economic and cultural classes. Across Canada our ability to provide care to this demographic has come into question, as the most vulnerable members of our society are made to bear the burden of years of collective mismanagement.
This absence of foresight can best be seen in the inability of our nation to adequately staff personal support workers, who provide the basic needs for these vulnerable Canadians. Personal support workers are often the main point of contact for these individuals and are responsible for their care and emotional and societal supports. However, these relationships are precarious at best and at worst are criminal.
Most of us hope for a long and rich life. However, many of us may think twice about this wish based on the reality of life for thousands of seniors and disabled Canadians in this country who are dependent on personal care. Seniors and disabled Canadians in long-term care and community care often experience traumatic levels of isolation, which quickly erodes independence and quality of life.
As we all journey towards our senior years, our needs will grow more complex and require a robust and stable workforce. Unless we make significant changes and work towards a national standards model, many of us will not have the personal support workers needed to help us participate fully in our lives.
Seniors and disabled Canadians and health care issues are often discussed in tandem, and the reasons are not hard to see. For many seniors and disabled Canadians, it is their own health issues that isolate them, often leading to depression and many other health issues. In other words, as these seniors and disabled Canadians become lonely, their exposure to physical, emotional, verbal, sexual, racial and financial abuses increases greatly.
Of all the possible abuses endured by this vulnerable population, one not often spoken of is financial abuse. Over the last three years, the Canadian Support Workers Association, along with our chapter in Ontario, the Ontario Personal Support Workers Association, has dealt with a growing number of incidents involving the attempted seizure of entire estates by health care workers. Without a professionalized health care workforce, especially in community care, this population is at serious risk of quickly having their financial assets stolen, mortgaged and spent.
I look forward to answering all your questions today. Thank you.