Quebec watchdog to probe high number of senior deaths

MONTREAL—Quebec’s ombudswoman will investigate why so many seniors died from COVID-19 in the province’s longterm-care homes and other residences for the elderly.

The probe will focus on the failings of Quebec’s health-care network in responding to the many COVID-19 outbreaks in public and private seniors residences, Marie Rinfret announced Tuesday in a statement.

As of Sunday, more than 81 per cent of Quebec’s deaths related to COVID-19 had occurred either at long-term-care homes or at private seniors residences.

“The current crisis is happening in living environments that were vulnerable to begin with and where there were known problems that were often criticized by the Quebec ombudsman,” Rinfret said.

“These include a glaring shortage of staff, difficult work conditions because of this shortage, a high turnover rate for care attendants and insufficient oversight of private residences by the public network.”

The investigation will look into how seniors residences can be improved to better handle future pandemics or similar health crises, with a progress report expected by the fall.

Rinfret’s office will probe public and private long-term-care homes, where more than 60 per cent of the province’s COVID-19 deaths occurred. The ombudswoman will also review practices at other public residences such as so-called intermediate resources, which are centres adapted for people with limited mobility.

The investigation will also analyze the private network of seniors residences that are certified by the Health Department or have agreements with regional health networks. About 18 per cent of the province’s COVID-19 deaths have occurred at private seniors residences.

The province reported 70 additional COVID-19 deaths Tuesday, bringing the total to 4,139, and it added 614 new cases, for a total of 48,598.

Management of the province’s long-term-care homes during the pandemic came under increased scrutiny in early April after an investigation by the Montreal Gazette revealed 27 patients had died in a single facility over a two-week period. News reports since then have revealed that at least 51 patients in the CHSLD Herron have died.

The coroner announced April 12 it would investigate the deaths at the centre, which has been placed under trusteeship by the provincial government.

Since the Herron scandal broke, there have been more revelations of difficult conditions at many of the province’s long-term-care homes, which continue to suffer from a shortage of experienced full-time staff.