Canada's long term care homes: from national shame to international disgrace
New report on Long Term Care (LTC) homes is a scathing indictment of Canada’s response to COVID-19 and senior care.
Author of the article:Liz Braun
Publishing date:Mar 30, 2021 • 17 hours ago • 3 minute read • 12 Comments
Diane Colangelo visits her 86-year-old mother Patricia through a window at the Orchard Villa long-term care home in Pickering.
Diane Colangelo visits her 86-year-old mother Patricia through a window at the Orchard Villa long-term care home in Pickering. PHOTO BY VERONICA HENRI /Toronto Sun/Postmedia
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A new report on Long Term Care (LTC) homes is a scathing indictment of Canada’s response to COVID-19 and senior care.
The Canadian Institute for Health Information released a study of the first six months of the pandemic, showing how Canada’s nursing homes compare to those in other wealthy nations.
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It is not a pretty picture.
As statistics make clear, Canada really bungled the situation in LTC homes — and the end result is many deaths that probably could have been prevented. Compared to others, Canada has the worst record for deaths in LTC facilities.
Almost 70% of all COVID-19 deaths in Canada were in LTC homes; the international average is 41%.
The report — Canadian Institute for Health Information -The Impact of COVID-19 on Long-Term Care in Canada: Focus on the First 6 Months — makes several key findings.
First, nursing homes were disproportionately affected by COVID 19 in Canada, and the second wave was actually bigger and broader than the first in this regard — with more outbreaks and deaths in LTC and retirement homes. Infections went up 62% in the second wave.
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Lessons from the first wave were either ignored or fell on deaf ears, apparently.
LTC residents actually received less medical care during COVID’s first wave, with fewer doctor visits, and fewer transfers to hospital for the treatment of chronic conditions. There was also less contact with family and friends, associated with higher rates of depression.
LTC resident deaths from all causes were higher during the first wave lockdown versus pre-pandemic figures, even in locations with very little COVID. Ontario had the largest increase in excess deaths (28%) during the peak of the first wave.
According to the report, these findings point to structural challenges in the sector and to the need for, “Increased staffing levels, stronger infection control and prevention practices, better inspection and enforcement processes, and improved building infrastructure to reduce crowding and infection spread.”
In other words, all the same measures LTC advocates and health care workers have been begging for since COVID began. And for the 30 years before that.
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Between March 1, 2020 and February 15, 2021, 2500 Canadian care homes have had outbreaks — resulting in 14,000 resident deaths and 30 staff deaths. That’s more than two-thirds of all COVID deaths.
Some 80,000 residents and staff have been infected, which is 10% of all COVID cases in the country.
Again, that puts Canada’s care homes at 69% of total deaths, versus a 41% international average.
Things actually got worse in the second wave, with more outbreaks and more deaths.
As the report states, Ontario and Quebec had the largest proportion of homes with outbreaks involving resident cases.
“In spring 2020, more than 1,500 members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) were deployed to assist with staffing 32 of the most severely impacted homes in Quebec and Ontario,” the report reads.
“The CAF reported poor infection prevention and control practices (e.g., insufficient medical supplies and training, personal protective equipment [PPE] not available), residents being “denied food or not fed properly” and extensive staffing problems.”
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The same staffing problems prevail in many of Ontario’s nursing homes. And despite the vaccinations that should make residents safe, many are still in isolation, forbidden to leave their rooms.
The only possible reason for this continued violation of human rights is that it is cheaper to control the residents than to hire the required staff, and give them the proper salary and sick leave necessary to keep COVID-19 out of LTC homes.
As Ontario Tech University’s Dr. Vivian Stamatopoulos — a respected advocate for LTC residents — said Tuesday, “They have Uber-ized the work force. The staffing shortages are still critical. The government never engaged in a staffing blitz.”
The office of Merrilee Fullerton, Minister of Long Term Care, said Tuesday in a statement that $115 million will be invested to support the entry of up to 8,200 PSWs into the workforce by the end of 2021.
New report on Long Term Care (LTC) homes is a scathing indictment of Canada’s response to COVID-19 and senior care.
Author of the article:Liz Braun
Publishing date:Mar 30, 2021 • 17 hours ago • 3 minute read • 12 Comments
Diane Colangelo visits her 86-year-old mother Patricia through a window at the Orchard Villa long-term care home in Pickering.
Diane Colangelo visits her 86-year-old mother Patricia through a window at the Orchard Villa long-term care home in Pickering. PHOTO BY VERONICA HENRI /Toronto Sun/Postmedia
Article content
A new report on Long Term Care (LTC) homes is a scathing indictment of Canada’s response to COVID-19 and senior care.
The Canadian Institute for Health Information released a study of the first six months of the pandemic, showing how Canada’s nursing homes compare to those in other wealthy nations.
Ram TRX VIN 001 goes for US$410,000
Trackerdslogo
It is not a pretty picture.
As statistics make clear, Canada really bungled the situation in LTC homes — and the end result is many deaths that probably could have been prevented. Compared to others, Canada has the worst record for deaths in LTC facilities.
Almost 70% of all COVID-19 deaths in Canada were in LTC homes; the international average is 41%.
The report — Canadian Institute for Health Information -The Impact of COVID-19 on Long-Term Care in Canada: Focus on the First 6 Months — makes several key findings.
First, nursing homes were disproportionately affected by COVID 19 in Canada, and the second wave was actually bigger and broader than the first in this regard — with more outbreaks and deaths in LTC and retirement homes. Infections went up 62% in the second wave.
Advertisement
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Lessons from the first wave were either ignored or fell on deaf ears, apparently.
LTC residents actually received less medical care during COVID’s first wave, with fewer doctor visits, and fewer transfers to hospital for the treatment of chronic conditions. There was also less contact with family and friends, associated with higher rates of depression.
LTC resident deaths from all causes were higher during the first wave lockdown versus pre-pandemic figures, even in locations with very little COVID. Ontario had the largest increase in excess deaths (28%) during the peak of the first wave.
According to the report, these findings point to structural challenges in the sector and to the need for, “Increased staffing levels, stronger infection control and prevention practices, better inspection and enforcement processes, and improved building infrastructure to reduce crowding and infection spread.”
In other words, all the same measures LTC advocates and health care workers have been begging for since COVID began. And for the 30 years before that.
Advertisement
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Between March 1, 2020 and February 15, 2021, 2500 Canadian care homes have had outbreaks — resulting in 14,000 resident deaths and 30 staff deaths. That’s more than two-thirds of all COVID deaths.
Some 80,000 residents and staff have been infected, which is 10% of all COVID cases in the country.
Again, that puts Canada’s care homes at 69% of total deaths, versus a 41% international average.
Things actually got worse in the second wave, with more outbreaks and more deaths.
As the report states, Ontario and Quebec had the largest proportion of homes with outbreaks involving resident cases.
“In spring 2020, more than 1,500 members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) were deployed to assist with staffing 32 of the most severely impacted homes in Quebec and Ontario,” the report reads.
“The CAF reported poor infection prevention and control practices (e.g., insufficient medical supplies and training, personal protective equipment [PPE] not available), residents being “denied food or not fed properly” and extensive staffing problems.”
Advertisement
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
The same staffing problems prevail in many of Ontario’s nursing homes. And despite the vaccinations that should make residents safe, many are still in isolation, forbidden to leave their rooms.
The only possible reason for this continued violation of human rights is that it is cheaper to control the residents than to hire the required staff, and give them the proper salary and sick leave necessary to keep COVID-19 out of LTC homes.
As Ontario Tech University’s Dr. Vivian Stamatopoulos — a respected advocate for LTC residents — said Tuesday, “They have Uber-ized the work force. The staffing shortages are still critical. The government never engaged in a staffing blitz.”
The office of Merrilee Fullerton, Minister of Long Term Care, said Tuesday in a statement that $115 million will be invested to support the entry of up to 8,200 PSWs into the workforce by the end of 2021.
Canada's long term care homes: from national shame to international disgrace
New report on Long Term Care homes is a scathing indictment of Canada’s response to COVID-19
torontosun.com