Front-line workers say they need to stash diapers because the undergarments are kept under lock and key
Staff at a Toronto nursing home say a shortage of diapers has caused them to hoard the undergarments in residents' rooms. But administrators at the home say the front-line workers' hoarding practices are causing the shortage and have threatened to fire staff who continue to hoard diapers.
Staff at Leisureworld West Hill said the home keeps diapers under "lock and key," which means it can be hard to get fresh diapers when residents need them. Staff complained to the Ontario health ministry, which, after an inspection of the home on Aug. 11, cited the West Hill facility for violating the nursing home act.
The nursing home's CEO said investigators didn't look into whether extra diapers were readily available and ignored the statement from a registered nurse that the reason diapers at the home are in short supply is because front-line workers were hiding them in residents' rooms.
The facility's administrators sent a letter to all staff threatening disciplinary action, possibly leading to termination, if staff are found hoarding diapers in residents' rooms.
The letter states staff have been "hoarding incontinent products in the residents' closets, dressers and in their clothing (i.e. sleeves of coats, jackets and sweaters)."
This hoarding of diapers by a few workers is creating a shortage of available diapers, not the actions of the home, said Cutler.
The West Hill facility spends extra money on diapers to ensure residents receive proper care and all residents are assessed by third-party providers for their incontinence needs, said Cutler.
Residents receive their allocation of diapers each day and if they need an extra one, the front-line workers must ask the charge nurse, who has the keys to the room where they're kept, said Cutler.
Staff at Leisureworld West Hill said the home keeps diapers under "lock and key," which means it can be hard to get fresh diapers when residents need them. Staff complained to the Ontario health ministry, which, after an inspection of the home on Aug. 11, cited the West Hill facility for violating the nursing home act.
The nursing home's CEO said investigators didn't look into whether extra diapers were readily available and ignored the statement from a registered nurse that the reason diapers at the home are in short supply is because front-line workers were hiding them in residents' rooms.
The facility's administrators sent a letter to all staff threatening disciplinary action, possibly leading to termination, if staff are found hoarding diapers in residents' rooms.
The letter states staff have been "hoarding incontinent products in the residents' closets, dressers and in their clothing (i.e. sleeves of coats, jackets and sweaters)."
This hoarding of diapers by a few workers is creating a shortage of available diapers, not the actions of the home, said Cutler.
The West Hill facility spends extra money on diapers to ensure residents receive proper care and all residents are assessed by third-party providers for their incontinence needs, said Cutler.
Residents receive their allocation of diapers each day and if they need an extra one, the front-line workers must ask the charge nurse, who has the keys to the room where they're kept, said Cutler.
