Not-for-profit long-term care homes are spending a ”concerning amount” of their budgets on ”predatory” temporary staffing agencies.

So says the association representing nearly 500 not-for-profit nursing homes.

In a survey of 100 homes conducted by AdvantAge Ontario, the group says some of these agencies are exploiting the health human resource crisis by taking advantage of homes.

”Our members are spending tens of millions of dollars on temporary staff, rather than permanent care,” says Lisa Levin, CEO of AdvantAge Ontario.

”This is a problem and it’s getting worse.  We need government to push out the bad operators who are preying on homes in the midst of a staffing crisis.”

The survey found some homes are forced to pay, on average, $88 per-hour for a temporary RN, more than twice the typical wage of $43.

”This is price gouging, plain and simple,” adds Levin.

”It’s an unsustainable situation.”

AdvantAge Ontario is calling on the government to put restrictions on hourly rates for temporary staff.

In total, the 100 homes surveyed are spending $6-million per-month on temporary staff.

Almost half, 44%, say they’re now unsure they’ll meet the government target of four-hours of daily, direct care for each nursing home resident.