By Corey Fischer

More Funding To Train Health Care Workers

Apr 18, 2018 | 2:47 PM

The BC government is providing more funding to Okanagan College and 10 other post secondary institutions to train more health care assistants.

Health Minister Adrian Dix says the 3.3 million dollars is one part of a larger strategy to increase staffing levels in residential care facilities and community care sectors.

Okanagan College in Vernon will get $66,000, for 20 additional seats, starting in late 2019.

The Salmon Arm campus will also get $66,000 for 20 extra seats.

“Health-care assistants play a valuable role in the public health system, offering day-to-day personal-care support to seniors and people with disabilities,” says Dix.

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There are currently about 28,000 health-care assistants employed by health authorities and affiliated employers in B.C.

Health-care assistants provide personal support services for seniors, people with a disability and people with acute or chronic illnesses. They work in a variety of settings including home support, assisted living and residential care facilities.

There are 17 publicly funded post-secondary institutions throughout B.C. that offer health-care assistant training.

Training programs are approximately six to 10 months long.

“This new funding will make the new seats available by December 2019,” says Dix. “This will help achieve the recommended 3.36 hours per resident day average in residential care facilities, and strengthen the level of care people receive at home, in assisted living facilities and residential care.”

by Corey Fischer