A private member's bill that would allow residents of congregate settings to have access to essential caregivers during a pandemic has passed the second reading.
Windsor West MPP Lisa Gretzky introduced the "More Than a Visitor Act" after witnessing residents separated from their family members and essential caregivers while facilities were locked down.
"We are on the cusp of the second-wave and it is so important that there is a caregiver strategy in place to ensure that these individuals that are receiving care or support in congregate care settings are not being told that they cannot access their caregivers," said Gretzky.
Gretzky says the bill lays out that residents have a right to access these caregivers and there should be procedures and guidelines in place to make sure this can happen safely.
"The government has to ensure that all of these homes, all of these congregate care settings have the resources that they need in order to make sure that those visits are happening safely," said Gretzky. Ensure that there is proper staffing levels, stable staffing levels, make sure that there's training in infection prevention and control."
Once the bill passes third reading, the strategy to allow essential caregivers must be in place within 30 days.