HALIFAX — The chief executive of Nova Scotia's Worker's Compensation Board says he's disturbed by a spike in the last year in the number of nursing home workers making injury claims due to violence from residents.
Stuart MacLean says statistics from his office show there were 40 nursing home workers who ended up off work and receiving payments due to injuries in 2015.
He says that's a significant rise from the 28 workers off in 2014 due to the injuries caused by violence.
Figures provided by the board also show the number of nursing home workers off due to violence is close to double the 22 hospital workers who are off due to the same issue, even though hospitals have far more employees.
The Nova Scotia Nurses Union issued a report last fall calling on the province to do more to reduce the injuries of both residents and employees in nursing homes caused by punches, pinches, scratches, bites, kicking, grabs or other forms of violence from residents.
It has recommended the hiring of more nurse practitioners, increased workplace training and detailed risk assessments of the homes.
