Families cautiously optimistic after outbreak ends at Heritage Green

The COVID-19 outbreak at Heritage Green is over, but family members of residents aren’t breathing a sigh of relief just yet.

Five weeks after Hamilton’s first outbreak was declared at Heritage Green Nursing Home in Stoney Creek, it ended Monday. But public health will still be testing asymptomatic residents and staff, as per a provincial directive.

“I’m guardedly optimistic,” said Janet Volkes, whose 89year-old father, Norman Hoar, is a resident at Heritage Green. “There’s still a chance that there could be other cases there.”

Still, she welcomes good news, even if it’s temporary.

The outbreak at the 167-bed nursing home was first declared March 21 after two residents tested positive. In the ensuing days and weeks, the nursing home became a lightning rod for criticism as family members voiced concerns over a lack of communication from the home. The union said staff initially didn’t have access to personal protective equipment (PPE). Communication and access to PPE got better as time went on, the union and families said.

All told, 12 residents and three staff tested positive. Four residents died.

In an email sent from Heritage Green to families on Tuesday, administrator Scott Kozachenko said Heritage Green had actually asked Hamilton public health to not declare the outbreak over until all asymptomatic staff and residents’ test results were back.

“We did not want to be declared ‘out’ of outbreak only to find we would be back ‘in’ outbreak, if we discovered a positive case,” Kozachenko said. “Finding a positive result for a resident or staff would be so disappointing and discouraging to everyone, we didn’t want to put anyone through this — not our resident’s (sic), their families or our staff.”

“Unfortunately, Public Health did not agree with Heritage Green or see the wisdom in this, they have gone ahead with their announcement.”

Public health declares an outbreak over 14 days after the last resident to test positive started showing symptoms or 14 days after the last staff member to test positive worked a shift.

In an email, Hamilton public health said it will schedule a debrief with Heritage Green administration “to review the outbreak details and identify challenges and opportunities going forward.”

The email from Kozachenko goes on to say visitors still can’t come into the home, but once all test results come back negative, residents will be allowed to gather in small groups.

The Spectator reached out to Kozachenko for further comment Friday, but did not hear back.

In Hamilton, outbreaks are also over at Wentworth Lodge, St. Joseph’s Hospital’s special care nursery, Chartwell Retirement

Residence, Kingsberry Place, Clarion Nursing Home and Good Shepherd Men’s Centre.

In the meantime, Volkes remains worried about her father. He never showed symptoms of the virus, but isolation has taken a toll. When she spoke with him via FaceTime, he “looked older,” she said.

“There (used to be) a little bit of a spark there. There’s just a dullness now,” Volkes said. “I hope it comes back.”

His 90th birthday is in June. It’s unclear if he’ll be allowed out to celebrate by then. But Volkes’ sister, Sandie Berenger, is adamant: he will be.

“We’re going to have a party,” she said. “I am not going to let that man be inside that nursing home on his 90th birthday. There’s just no way.”