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"We understand this is heartbreaking, but it is important that we communicate the circumstances as we know them so that you may consider and decide in advance what measures might be acceptable to you should your loved one suffer from COVID-19 or require hospitalization."
This, from North Bay's Waters Edge Care Community, which, like other long-term care facilities across the country, is preparing the families and loved ones of its residents for the worst while working around the clock to ensure positive outcomes.
Following the deaths of 29 residents (and one resident's spouse) of Pinecrest Nursing Home in Bobcaygeon, Ont., the importance of keeping the COVID-19 virus out of care homes has never been more pronounced. This is the challenge faced by the administrators and staff of homes, due to the rapid and damaging toll the virus can reap on a vulnerable population.
Sienna Senior Living, the national parent company of Waters Edge, has kept residents and their families updated throughout the pandemic. The latest correspondence from Director of Care Teresa Malott has a sombre tone.
"We believe it is crucial to plan for all potential circumstances. If we encounter — or have confirmed — a resident with COVID-19, our plan will be to treat the resident," at Waters Edge in isolation, with protective measures in place. "This will be the safest and most comfortable place for their care."
Malott advises families a transfer to the hospital for potential confirmed COVID-19 residents. Without formal treatment available beyond "supportive care or potential mechanical ventilation in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU), the survival rate among the elderly admitted to hospital remains low."
Malott adds, "Our ICU colleagues want families to understand the ramifications of putting frail and elderly residents on ventilator support. We know that even with survival after ventilator support, the quality of life and outcome for these residents is significantly diminished."
Sienna Living President & CEO Lois Cormack tells families of residents she is concerned recent reports surrounding long-term care homes are "causing fear and anxiety and we will do everything to share the facts and connect with your loved ones on a regular basis. Residents living in long-term care residences have extensive care needs that cannot be easily or safely met in another setting or by family members. Our team members are highly skilled and have the expertise, supplies, and practices to meet the needs of residents requiring long-term care."
In Ontario, Cormack reports seven long-term care residences and one retirement residence have one or more positive case. She cites the "tremendous efforts of our team members, their hard work and commitment," for the two residences which successfully contained the virus and have subsequently been cleared of outbreak status by public health.
Cormack adds, "We are facing a serious situation at Altamont Care Community in Scarborough, where there have been a number of positive cases. Tragically, this resulted in a loss of life of residents and on April 16th the passing of a Personal Support Worker due to COVID-19."
Waters Edge explains the goal is to reduce hospitalizations to avoid overburdening the health care system and not "worsen the surge of patients in acute care facilities unless it is absolutely necessary...any decision to be made by medical personnel to transfer a resident to hospital for any reason will be weighed carefully and avoided whenever possible.
"Prevention remains our best solution."