Whistleblower complaints from staff and concerned family members reveal a crisis in many Ontario long-term care homes.
That’s the finding from Patient Ombudsman Executive Director Craig Thompson.
Thompson says concerns about the coronavirus include severe staffing shortages, inadequate infection control and prevention measures, inability to meet basic care needs for some residents and poor to no communication.
He says “This is a frightening time for many patients, residents, families and caregivers. Our goal is to learn as much as we can about how COVID-19 is affecting residents and staff in long-term care homes.”
Thompson is asking staff, family members, caregivers and residents to disclose situations where they feel their safety may in jeopardy.
He stresses the end goal is to help long-term care homes with future pandemic planning, including additional and potential new waves of the virus.
Anyone with relevant information about COVID-19 in Ontario’s long-term care homes is encouraged to file a complaint at http://www.patientombudsman.ca or call 1-888-321-0339.
