Schlegel Villages addresses outbreak criticism
Increasingly under fire for the major COVID-19 outbreak at one of its Windsor long-term care homes, the Schlegel Villages corporation has issued a list of the measures undertaken to deal with the situation.
“We deeply appreciate the support and interest that our partners like the hospital, the LHIN (Local Health Integration Network), and the union have shown our home,” said Christy Parsons, a vice-president with Schlegel Villages, speaking about The Village at St. Clair in south Windsor.
“Right now, we are short a number of staff, as they have symptoms and are testing positive, but we have been bringing in volunteers, and our management are working as personal support workers to help supplement our team.”
Parsons' statement follows Unifor national president Jerry Dias calling upon Premier Doug Ford to intervene at The Village at St. Clair, located at 1800 Talbot Rd. W.
According to the most recent update by the Windsor-essex County Health Unit, the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak at the facility now involves 164 cases: 97 residents and 67 staff members.
At least nine residents have died since the outbreak was first reported Dec. 8.
Unifor Local 2458 represents the site's workers. Dias said the union has received “desperate pleas” from front-line staff at the home, and the situation has become “a matter of life and death.”
Dias urged the provincial government to take over management of the facility, and activate extra resources, including Red Cross and Armed Forces, if necessary.
But Parsons said the Red Cross was already on site on Tuesday. “Our reality is that we are seeking all avenues of support,” she wrote.
According to Parsons, Schlegel Villages has been consulting daily with Ontario Health, the Windsor-essex County Health Unit, and Hotel-dieu Grace Healthcare.
Staff at The Village at St. Clair have been bolstered with eight members of the Schlegel Villages central support office, and 12 people from six other Schlegel Villages facilities, including registered clinicians.
Hotel-dieu Grace Hospital, which is partnered with Schlegel Villages at The Village at St. Clair, has added nine team members.
An additional 11 workers have been obtained from an environmental agency to help with augmented cleaning procedures and other duties.
The Local Health Integration Network has provided five more staff members.
Meanwhile, Schlegel Villages continues to work with staffing agencies, “to find a reliable source of temporary team members.”
The home has welcomed 25 volunteers to help with nutrition and hydration of residents, Parsons wrote.
Parsons also addressed Local 2458's complaints concerning the availability of N95 masks for workers.
“Despite what has been reported, none of our team members have ever been without the necessary PPE (personal protective equipment) required to do their job safely, including N95 masks,” Parsons insisted.
But New Democrat politicians in Windsor-essex have continued to express concern about The Village at St. Clair.
Last week, Brian Masse, MP for Windsor West, wrote to federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu to personally alert her to the situation, and to request “a full analysis” with federal support, if necessary.
“Urgency may require action in the immediate future,” Masse wrote.
Masse expressed thanks to his provincial NDP counterpart, Windsor West MPP Lisa Gretzky, who has also publicly expressed alarm on the issue.
Masse tweeted that his grandmother was a former resident at The Village at St. Clair.
“I know how much the staff care and love for the residents, but they need the proper supports. As a PSW (personal support worker), I am horrified by the fact proper-fitting PPE is still a struggle.”