For Immediate Release
September 10, 2021
Edmonton, AB – MaKami College is pleased to hear the recent news from the Government of Alberta announcing wage increases for Health Care Aides working in home care agencies contracted with Alberta Health Services.
“This is great news for Health Care Aides working in Alberta right now,” says MaKami’s CEO Marija Pavkovic-Tovissi. “Health Care Aides were already in high demand before the pandemic struck, and they’ve been working past capacity for some time. We believe initiatives like these will help not just retain current workers but hopefully attract more HCA’s to work in the field, which are greatly needed.”
The Alberta Government announced the wage increase as part of its $36 million new funding to improve wages and create additional workforce capacity to allow more Albertans to receive care outside of hospitals and free up resources to treat COVID-19 patients during the fourth wave.
“We know that home care agencies are experiencing staffing challenges. Increasing the pool of available staff will mean we can move additional patients from hospitals to their homes when it is safe to do so,” says Minister of Health Tyler Shandro. “This is a benefit to patients who would rather get the care they need in the comfort of their own homes. It also benefits hospitals as they manage the increasing number of patients who need beds because of COVID-19 complications.”
Home care agencies will receive $22 million over two years in additional funding to provide wage increases to their certified health-care aides. The additional funding will provide a pay increase of $2 an hour for the next 13 months for health-care aides working in home care agencies contracted with Alberta Health Services.
Alberta Health Services is also increasing home care hours authorized for agencies and an additional $14 million is being provided to expand workforce capacity to support home care and continuing care facilities on a short-term basis until March 31, 2022.
For more information:
Kamea Stacey, Communications Director
403-474-0772
