How did B.C. long-term care and assisted living operators successfully flatten the curve?

From a national standpoint, the experience of British Columbia seniors care providers and independent living operators is a study in contrast to their counterparts in other parts of the country. COVID-19 continues to ravage long-term care and retirement homes in Ontario and Quebec, to the point where the country’s armed forces have been called in for support. This is tragic news for all of us here, and we wish them all the strength they can muster to fight against the novel coronavirus.

In B.C., the country’s very first “hot spot” for COVID-19 happened at Lynn Valley Care Centre. The impact of the coronavirus in our province was felt the hardest by families who lost loved ones living at the care home. Incredibly, Lynn Valley is now essentially COVID-19 free. Today, there are zero residents at Lynn Valley that have tested positive, 32 residents have recovered as have 17 staff.

As of April 24th, twenty sites remain under outbreak protocols. But eleven sites are now listed as being COVID-19 free, with more coming off the quarantine list each week. There are other impressive statistics to note as well.

  • Less than 1% of seniors in care in B.C. have tested positive for COVID-19
  • 98% of seniors care residences reported no fatalities due to COVID-19
  • 43% of “outbreaks” in a seniors care residence involve only a single case – usually a staff person who has tested positive
  • Of all long-term care and assisted living residences in B.C., 93% have had no cases of COVID-19. If independent living sites are included as well, the number is well over 95%.

The slides below graphically display these figures as well as others.

Slide Show: B.C. COVID-19 Statistics for Seniors Care Residences

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How has B.C. flattened the curve in long-term care?

There is a lot of credit to be given for how B.C. has been able to fight back the threat of COVID-19 in its seniors care residences. They include families who sacrificed being able to visit their loved ones in care, and the organizations who support caregivers. Government decision-makers deserve credit, such as Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Minister of Health Adrian Dix, as do others in the public service. Doctors who mostly worked outside care homes have provided critical support during the pandemic. And everyone involved involved in transporting people and goods to keep care homes operating must be recognized, among many others.

Ultimately, the work inside seniors care homes done by frontline care workers, housekeeping, food services, management and administrative staff has helped to control infection and keep residents safe. Most sites were quick to restrict non-essential visits, which is something BCCPA advocated strongly for early in March.

Then many sites moved quickly to require single-site only staffing – something that BCCPA also strongly advocated for – weeks ahead of orders by provincial officials. Care homes ended transfers to and from hospitals, and infection control protocols were fully implemented.

Langley Lodge: A Case Study

At Langley Lodge, a long-term care home that was taken off Fraser Health’s current outbreak list today, communication was a critical component of their success.

“Great communication to our staff and to our families really helped us get through the past month,” says Debra Hauptman, CEO at Langley Lodge. “It began with posters everywhere, on doors and building entrances. Every bit of communication we had was passed along to our team so that no one felt they were in the dark.

“Then we ramped up our social media by posting regular updates on our Facebook page, Twitter feed and website. We were delighted by how much response we received from the community on these sites.

“Inside the care home we wanted our staff to know we were doing everything possible to protect them from the virus. This included active screening three times per day of all our staff, including me. As well, every staff person who came and left had to sign a checklist to make sure they were not experiencing any symptoms.”

Hauptman said that being “ahead of the curve” in getting ready for COVID-19 helped immensely. In the end, not a single resident was infected.

After the initial report of the infection, Hauptman contacted BC Care Providers Association to field media inquiries, which she says ceased after that.

There are countless stories like these of all the work that has been done, and the at times heroic feats of staff in long-term care, assisted living and independent living sites over the past several weeks. We thank them all for the work they do every day. BCCPA and EngAge BC are with you to keep up the fight against COVID-19.

Video: A Thank You from Langley Lodge

April 24, 2020 – residences which have had outbreak measures lifted 

  • Amica Retirement Home long-term care
  • Delta View long-term care home
  • Evergreen Heights assisted living
  • German Canadian House long-term care home
  • Hollyburn long-term care home
  • Inglewood Lodge long-term care home
  • Langley Lodge long-term care home
  • Little Mountain long-term care home
  • Shaughnessy Care Centre long-term care home
  • The Harrison at Elim Village long-term care home
  • Villa Cathay long-term care home