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Quebecers, including those in high office, have suddenly come to realize the crucial importance of the unheralded grunt work involved in caring for frail seniors, a job usually left to the lowliest and lowest-paid caregivers in the health system.

Those who change adult diapers, wipe chins, give sponge baths to the bedridden and coax spoonfuls of purée into reluctant mouths are in such short supply due to COVID-19 that Quebec’s long-term care homes are in need of what Health Minister Danielle McCann called “a humanitarian mission.”

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Some 2,000 staff from public and private seniors’ residences across the province are missing in action, either because they’ve contracted COVID-19, are in isolation after exposure or are simply too frightened to show up for work. The dire lack of personnel to carry out basic tasks and maintain the dignity of patients has forced the government to take desperate measures.