The COVID-19 pandemic is prompting questions about how to improve long-term care.
Federal officials estimate 80-percent of COVID-19 deaths in Canada are seniors living in long-term care homes.
Officials were asked Saturday afternoon whether there should be a formal inquiry into long-term care after the pandemic. Canada’s chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam says while she can’t say what form an inquiry or review would take, they need to take some lessons from this.
“I think it’s a big societal conversation, it’s probably not a single one. It’s going to be many different ones coming together because so many people are involved. So absolutely, we’ve got to do better as a nation,” Dr. Tam says.
“We know that where there are weaknesses, whether structural, social, or economic in nature, this virus will take advantage,” she points out. “If we are willing to give what it takes to address these weaknesses in long-term care and assisted living homes, and to provide better support to poorly-compensated workers in these settings, we stand a better chance of maintaining control of the virus.”
Canada has over 66,700 confirmed cases, and more than 4,600 deaths.
However, Dr. Tam says around 46% of COVID-19 cases have recovered.
