By Adam Berls

long term care

Group calling for national inquiry into Canada’s Covid-19 response in long-term care

Aug 2, 2023 | 3:11 PM

PRINCE GEORGE — A group is calling for a national inquiry into Canada’s Covid-19 response at long-term care facilities. The virus led to approximately 50,000 deaths at long term care homes in Canada, including close to two dozen in Prince George

The Action for Reform of Residential Care or ARRC is calling for a national inquiry into Canada’s Covid-19 response and specifically how it impacted long term care facilities. ARRC is supporting the British Medical Journal’s call for an inquiry, led by a multidisciplinary review panel that includes health experts and Canadians from all walks of like to examine how Canada’s covid response affected long-term care residents.

“They had to accept what was going on. They had to see it. You know, nothing could go under the carpet. But again, everything just kind of closed step after COVID, you know, systems closed, we don’t hear much. So an inquiry is an opportunity to try and rip the curtains back again and make the public pay attention because only the public can get the government to act.” – Penny MacCourt, Chair, Action for Reform of Residential Care (ARRC) BC

Covid-19 exposed many of the flaws and problems already present in long-term care, and many of those issues were already present, Covid just made them worse.

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“Of course it’s wonderful, you know, that the worst of it is over, but to not actually then take the steps to deal with the things that were exposed during COVID, I think would be a terrible mistake. It’s an opportunity for us to both acknowledge and act on the limitations that exist within long term care currently.” – Dawn Hemingway, Professor Emerita, UNBC

To give perspective on how hard covid hit long-term care here in Prince George, at Jubilee Lodge, an outbreak of Covid was declared in December 2020, where a total of 17 residents died. Later in September of 2021, another outbreak occurred, where 6 more residents died, bringing the total to 23. 89 cases were reported at the lodge between the two outbreaks. Two years later, while outbreaks of that magnitude are no longer common-place, many issues that were brought forward during Covid, like staffing and hours of care for each patient, remain at the forefront.

ARRC has also asked B.C.’s Minister of Health Adrian Dix to appoint a multi-disciplinary advisory forum to help develop an action plan for long term care to help solve the problems the are in long-term care. The goal is to also give the residents a voice in this process, because at the end of the day, they are the ones who matter.

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Twitter: @AdamBerls

Email: Adam.Berls@pattisonmedia.com