Assisted and independent living are two distinct sectors with their challenges and needs. However, one common thread is that both workplace injury rates have increased since 2015. Sector trends show:
- Injury rates have increased by 29% (from 2015-18)
- Workdays have increased by 57% (from 2015-19)
- Claims costs have increased by 73% (from 2015-19)
We want to work with assisted living and independent living residences to lower injury rates and ensure staff have safe and healthy workplaces. This will also improve the quality of care and assistance for residents.
SafeCare BC and Howegroup, respected for their healthcare consultancy, performed a needs assessment on the sectors to understand the workplace safety issues and examine the workplace health and safety training, education and resource needs. Our research, which included surveys, interviews and environmental scans, identified some factors contributing to the rising injury rates. Among the challenges faced in the sector are:
- Increase in dementia diagnosis among assisted living residents
- Staff working alone
- Staff lacking the training to respond to certain situations
- A lack of managers and leaders on-site
Workers in assisted living and independent living have indicated the following as the top education and training priorities:
- Infection prevention and control
- New worker orientation
- MSI prevention/ Safe client handling
- Violence prevention
- Bullying/harassment
“In assisted living, residents used to be pretty independent. Now, they have higher acuity, more early-onset dementia, which places an increased risk to staff and increases the need for staff.” ~Sector partner
In both assisted living and independent living, the most common causes of injuries are:
- Overexertion
- Falls and trips
- Being struck by a resident or client
- Other bodily motions
These are also some of the most common injury causes seen in long-term care and home care — sectors SafeCare BC already works with.
We Can Help
“SafeCare BC is a fabulous organization; they have been instrumental in bridging a gap in the industry. They’re not necessarily at the forefront of where to go for resources, though, and they should be.” – Assisted Living employer
We know how to tailor our programs and resources to the unique needs of each sector. Overall, the reduction in injury rates in long-term care and home care has been positive.
Tailored Training
We provide industry-leading training and education that is responsive to sector needs. As indicated in our survey findings, assisted living and independent living workers prefer hands-on in-person training with their co-workers, but also enjoy the convenience of online learning. SafeCare BC offers both through our learning management system, LEARNING [SPACE]. Expert facilitators teach our courses covering relevant topics such as violence prevention, dementia care, and infection prevention and control.
We work closely with our members to foster a culture of workplace health and safety. Through initiatives like the Tailored Outreach Program, SafeCare BC ensures organizations get the resources and training that are right for them.
“The Tailored Outreach Program complements what we were already doing and shows our staff and clients that we are accountable and responsive to health and safety. And the fact this is coming from SafeCare BC lends credibility for our staff.”
