Feb 08, 2022 in News Long-term Care

Long-term Care: Can Lessons Learned from COVID Improve Long-Term Care in Canada?

Among the millions of Canadians whose lives have been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, nobody was affected more acutely than long-term care residents and their families. Upwards of 80 per cent of all Canadian COVID deaths during the pandemic’s first months occurred in long-term care; our long-term care class action lawyers believe many of those deaths could have been prevented.

The failures of the provincial and territorial long-term care systems have been well-documented, including by us. You can read more about the details of the COVID-19 disaster in long-term care here, and about the underlying issues that enabled the disaster here and here.

Now, there is cautious hope among long-term care advocates, including some long-term care class action lawyers, that lessons from the pandemic will help guide improved care in the future. Last month, the Health Standards Organization (HSO), an independent organization that develops standards for the healthcare sector, released draft national standards for long-term care facilities nationwide. Additional infection control standards are expected from the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) this month.

“I’m hoping that this will be a clear blueprint that really can enable provincial and territorial and federal action to move long-term care to where all Canadians are demanding it to go,” said Dr. Samir Sinha, director of geriatrics at Sinai Health and the University of Toronto Health Network and chair of the HSO technical committee that drafted the standards, to the CBC.

Unfortunately, implementing and enforcing long-term care standards is even more difficult than the arduous task of developing them. Dr. Sinha conceded to the CBC that it will take “a lot of money” from the government to put the recommendations in action. He also acknowledged that the provinces may bristle at the notion of Ottawa setting standards.

Federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos echoed that sentiment in an email comment to the CBC, writing: “As long-term care falls under provincial and territorial jurisdiction, any legislation will be designed in a manner that reflects jurisdictional responsibilities. The federal government will work collaboratively with provinces and territories, while respecting their jurisdiction over health care, including long-term care.”

From a personal injury lawyer’s perspective, it is the responsibility of all stakeholders, from governments to individual facility operators, to improve the level of care experienced by LTC residents. This is particularly true as residents experience a new round of lockdowns and restrictions amid the spread of the Omicron variant.

If you or a member of your family was negatively impacted by COVID-19 in an Ontario long-term care facility, contact us today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with a member of our team of long-term care class action lawyers. We may be able to help you access compensation for the damages you have experienced.

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