Niagara LTC homes have seen 33 deaths in two weeks
Rev. Daniel Tatarnic’s grandmother Marion Girard is one of about 117 residents and staff at Extendicare in St. Catharines who have tested positive for COVID-19 since its outbreak began Dec. 12.
“It’s so troubling seeing what’s happening. People don’t know what to do anymore other than to say how can we raise awareness?” said Tatarnic, an associate pastor at Christ’s Church Cathedral in Hamilton.
“I feel this is an issue the government has to really look after. There seems to be roadblocks everywhere.”
He said his 96-year-old grandmother grew up in Iroquois Falls, Ont., during the Great Depression and moved to Niagara after the Second World War. She spent most of her long life living on Pelham Road in St. Catharines, not far from the long-term-care home where she currently resides.
She outlived her husband as well as her children, leaving her grandchildren and greatgrandchildren as her only surviving relatives.
But, in the days since Girard was diagnosed with the virus, Tatarnic said they have become “very concerned about her well-being.”
“She’s very tired, very lethargic,” he said.
Management at the 153-bed facility provided an update on the outbreak Monday.
“We are saddened to report that two additional residents who had previously tested positive have passed away since yesterday’s update,” wrote the facility’s administrator, Jane Freeman, in her latest update to family members.
“We have been in touch with
these residents’ families to offer our heartfelt condolences.”
Extendicare spokesperson Laura Gallant said the home has 50 active cases among residents, and 17 others who have recovered.
There are also staff members there who have tested positive, and 19 of them have recovered.
“We continue to add additional staff members to support our home during this time. We are saddened to confirm that15 residents that have previously tested positive have passed away,” Gallant said.
Tatarnic has nothing but praise for the staff at his grandmother’s long-term-care home, who have been providing regular updates about the impact the outbreak is having on residents and staff.
“They have been excellent to her and to the family. Those little acts of heroism,” he said, referring to efforts of workers to keep the family connected with her.
“The staff has really continued to go out of their way.”
He believes the problem is systemic.
After the pandemic had already devastated many longterm-care homes across Ontario during the first wave, Tatarnic is troubled the second wave has had an even greater impact on homes.
“I’m perplexed to tell you the truth, that we don’t see the same rates of infections at schools, condominiums, etc., but we see an almost out-ofcontrol situation in long-termcare facilities,” he said. “I find that troubling. Very troubling.” Extendicare isn’t alone. Niagara’s acting medical officer of health, Dr. Mustafa Hirji reported on social media Tuesday that 25 long-term-care homes in Niagara have experienced outbreaks of COVID-19 in the past two weeks, claiming 33 lives.
Outbreaks are also underway at Greater Niagara General Hospital and Hotel Dieu Shaver Rehabilitation Centre.
Across Ontario, the Ministry of Long-term Care reported outbreaks at 216 homes with 1,097 residents infected and1,101 staff members.
Hirji said the situation at Extendicare is similar to that of other homes experiencing outbreaks.
“One thing our long-termcare sector is really struggling with right now is staffing,” Hirji said.
“There’s just not a lot of staff left in the system. If a home goes into outbreak, it has fewer staff, and there aren’t the replacement staff they can bring in. That means its hard to control the outbreak initially, and I think that’s partly what we’re challenged with” generally across the system.