Order of Canada Recipient Explains Canada’s Long-Term Care COVID-19 Devastation

Canadians across the country are outraged following recent reports of epidemics, neglect and negligence in the nation’s long-term care (LTC) facilities. As of May 25, over 840 outbreaks have been reported in care facilities and retirement homes, accounting for a whopping 81 per cent of all COVID-19 deaths in the country. This data ranks Canada as the OECD country with the highest proportion of COVID-19 deaths occurring in LTC.

Ontario, Quebec, Alberta and Nova Scotia suffered the worst COVID-19 outbreaks in the country. In Ontario, Southbridge Care Homes were reportedly hit the hardest in the province, totaling at least 225 residents and 96 staff infected with the deadly virus. Families of residents filed numerous class action lawsuits against LTC and retirement home operators in Ontario, including Chartwell, Altamont Care Community and Sienna Senior Living.

Long-Term Care Home Outbreaks Explained

In an exclusive Top Class Actions interview, Sharon Sholzberg-Gray C.M., explains Ontario’s LTC devastation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mrs. Sholzberg-Gray, wife of the late Liberal MP Herb Gray, played a central role in Canadian public policy, holding positions as CEO for renowned national health care associations for over 25 years, among them, the Canadian Health Care Association, the Canadian Association for Community Care and the Canadian Long Term Care Association. She was named to the Order of Canada in 2018 for her leadership in health care.

“Long-term care was always the poor orphan of the healthcare system,” Mrs. Sholzberg-Gray says. “Due to privatization, money comes first, before care. When COVID-19 reared its ugly head, I knew we’re going to have a terrible tragedy in long-term care.”

In a sobering analysis of what went wrong in the province, Mrs. Sholzberg-Gray attributes Ontario’s LTC downfall to poor infrastructure, lack of regulatory enforcement and lack of personnel. Ontario’s privatization of the LTC sector is the culprit, she says.

“A host of issues” have been present in Ontario’s LTC sector, all of which contributed to the devastating COVID-19 outbreaks. Low staffing ratios is a leading systemic issue responsible for the province’s high death toll among its elderly in care facilities. “Long-term care homes don’t hire full time staff; they hire contract workers, whom they don’t pay nearly enough and who have to work in a number of facilities to make ends meet. This is how COVID-19 spreads.”

Indeed, reports of LTC staff working in multiple care homes amid the pandemic led Ontario Premier Doug Ford to issue an emergency order prohibiting employees from working at different facilities to slow the spread of COVID-19.

The lack of staff translates into minimal care. Often nurses only have 10 minutes to wash LTC residents, whereas each resident should be given a minimum of three hours of personal care.

Ontario’s disproportionate COVID-19 deaths in care facilities can also be attributed to the province’s poor LTC infrastructure. “Many older facilities have four people in a room- all sharing a bathroom,” says Mrs. Sholzberg-Gray, “and many only have air conditioning in common areas.”

COVID-19 and Long-Term Care: Lessons Learned

Comparing provincial rates of COVID-19 in LTC facilities across Canada can help inform what Ontario’s facilities could have done differently and should do differently going forward, notes Mrs. Sholzberg-Gray.

Other provinces fared better than Ontario, like Saskatchewan. “They experienced far less COVID-19 outbreaks in their long-term care facilities, and this is mostly because of their new long-term care models.”

As of July 3, Saskatchewan reported 796 COVID-19 cases, 711 recoveries and 14 deaths. According to Mrs. Sholzberg-Gray, many LTC facilities in the province employ new “patient-centered” models. “Every bedroom has a private bathroom, and there are no more than two residents per room. Each room is equipped with air conditioning, and there are congregate living areas, but residents can also eat in their own rooms.”

Another key issue is regulation. Provincial governments are responsible for regulating LTC in the province. Ontario’s COVID-19 deaths in care facilities can be linked to the lack of provincial regulation. “The province cut long-term care inspections to only seven per year for the entire province to save money, and this contributed to COVID-19 outbreaks. It’s not a place to save money, because people die.” Enforcing provincial care standards is therefore essential to prevent future tragedies, and could have helped the province avoid the current LTC devastation.

Going forward, Mrs. Sholzberg-Gray proposes that stricter regulation, infrastructural improvements, better pay and training for LTC staff coupled with public support for improving Canada’s elderly care will help prevent future outbreaks.

“Most long-term care issues arose because we wanted to cut taxes,” Mrs. Sholzberg-Gray reflects. “We can improve the long-term care sector, we can choose if we want our taxes to fund long-term care. It’s really up to us.”

Do you think the devastation in Canada’s LTC facilities could have been prevented? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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