RNAO CEO Doris Grinspun spoke with CBC radio’s Metro Morning about early recommendations released Oct. 23 by the independent commission looking into the spread of COVID-19 in long-term care homes. The commission is expected to issue its report in April of next year, but released its preliminary recommendations on staffing and infection prevention and control in light of the spike in cases during the second wave of the pandemic. The commission would like to see a minimum of four hours of daily direct care for each resident, as well as increasing the supply of personal support workers and nurses. When asked what the recommendation for four hours of direct care would mean to residents, Grinspun notes it will provide residents with the quality care they deserve. “That care should be 48 minutes from an RN, 60 minutes from an RPN, and 132 minutes from a PSW, every day for each resident,” she says, noting this required mix of staff is outlined in the association’s Nursing Home Basic Care Guarantee submission to government (released in June 2020). (Oct. 26)