Interesting data out of the country with the highest rate of COVID-19 deaths in aged care.
The study, conducted by Sinai Health and the University of Toronto, looked at all 623 long-term care homes in Ontario from March to May 2020.
30% of all homes experienced outbreaks during the study period, with 110 outbreaks occurring in For Profit homes versus just 55 in Not For Profits and 25 in council-run homes.
For Profits were linked to a two-fold increase in the extent of a COVID-19 outbreak (number of resident cases) and a 178% increase in the number of resident deaths compared with Not For Profits.
This was attributed to the high number of smaller homes with multiple-occupancy rooms.
Of the 10 homes with the highest death rates, seven were in For Profit facilities with older design standards from before 1972 and chain ownership.
“Newer design standards provide for larger and more private room accommodations, as well as less crowded and self-contained common spaces, whereas older design standards can have ward-style accommodation and centralized common spaces in which all residents can interact. Beyond promoting quality of life, newer design standards promote infection prevention and control, given that they limit infection both within resident bedrooms and among areas of a facility,” the authors write.
The authors also point to inadequate staffing, particularly at For Profits, as a factor for worse outcomes for residents, and recommend Governments also focus on staffing levels when preparing for the next wave.
