Chartwell Retirement Residences is Canada’s largest provider of senior housing, with over 25,000 residents.
Chartwell Retirement Residences is Canada’s largest provider of senior housing, with over 25,000 residents.
SEIU Healthcare represents frontline workers in 20 Chartwell retirement homes.
Chartwell is Not Well – and their shareholders need to know about it. Chartwell is forcing its workers to provide care beyond their training and workplaces’ capacity due to staff shortages. It’s not safe for residents. It’s not safe for staff. Please click the button below and tell Chartwell Shareholders why Chartwell is Not Well before their Annual General Meeting this month.
What Is The Difference Between Retirement Homes And Long-Term Care Homes?
Retirement Homes
Retirement Homes
A retirement home is a privately paid home-like residency designed for seniors who can live independently but may need some assistance with daily activities.
Long-Term Care Homes
Long-Term Care Homes
A long-term care (LTC) home is a facility for seniors who have difficulties taking care of themselves. They often require around-the-clock help with eating, bathing and daily activities. Residents in LTC have higher needs and may be unable to get out of bed or eat on their own.
Why Does Chartwell Want To Run More Retirement Homes?
Retirement homes do not receive government funding, so Chartwell can charge residents more, making them more profitable than LTCs.
It also costs Chartwell less to operate retirement homes. Retirement homes are not subject to the same regulations as LTCs since they are meant to serve seniors who can live more independently.
Monthly Rates for a Private Room:
So, What’s Not Well At Chartwell?
Waitlists for residents to enter LTCs are long. 95% of the homes we represent had residents on a waitlist for an LTC facility.
Everyday, Chartwell forces workers to provide care beyond their training and workplaces’ capacity, making conditions unsafe for staff and residents.
- Only five homes had a mechanical lift. Many residents have serious mobility issues, some requiring wheelchairs or Hoyer lifts, which retirement homes are not allowed to have.
- 100% of the homes had residents living with dementia, who require more hands-on, round-the-clock care.
- Many residents need help with toileting and feeding and would not be able to do these things without help from staff.
95% of the homes we represent had residents on a waitlist for an LTC facility
Unsafe working conditions mean more workplace injuries. 21% of SEIU Healthcare members reported missing work due to a workplace injury.
- Chronic and acute back pain
- Stress ulcers
- Carpal tunnel
- Wrist injuries
- Neck pain
- Burns
- COVID 19
- Shoulder and elbow issues
- Flesh-eating infection
- Spinal stenosis
Wages
Our members are also being asked to do more while being paid less.
Chartwell retirement home workers make as low as $6 less per hour than the standard LTC worker in the same classification.
| Standard LTC Wage | Standard Chartwell Retirement Home |
|
|---|---|---|
| PSW/Attendant | $25 | $19 |
| Housekeeping/Laundry/Dietary | $23 | $19 |
| Cook | $25 | $21 |
| RPN | $31 | $25 |
| Standard LTC Wage |
Standard Chartwell Retirement Home |
|
|---|---|---|
| PSW/Attendant | $25 | $19 |
| Housekeeping/ Laundry/ Dietary |
$23 | $19 |
| Cook | $25 | $21 |
| RPN | $31 | $25 |
Instead of making real changes to keep staff like raising wages or improving working conditions, Chartwell is relying on temporary contract staff, putting residents at risk due to inexperience and inconsistency in care.
Our members are experts. They know Chartwell is Not Well, and they know what Chartwell management needs to do to get better.
What Chartwell Needs to Do