Family of Gladstone care-home resident fears another COVID ‘disaster’

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This article was published 17/11/2021 (1767 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The family of a personal care home resident in rural Manitoba is concerned there could be another COVID-19 “disaster” in congregate settings, despite vaccinations, boosters and the best efforts of staff.

“I just think this is a bit of a disaster waiting to happen despite staff’s best efforts all the time,” said Heather Stone, who found out Nov. 5 about an outbreak at Gladstone’s Third Crossing Manor where her mother, Roberta Stone, 86, lives.

Of the 70 cases of COVID-19 at the home, which is in the Southern Health region, 37 involve residents and 33 involve staffers.

Stone, who is fully vaccinated, has had the COVID-19 booster and a flu shot. She is self-isolating along with other residents of the home, including the mother of MLA Eileen Clarke, who represents the area.

“I’m happy to say my mom is recovering and doing much better, as are other residents and staff,” the former Progressive Conservative minister of Indigenous and northern affairs posted on Facebook.

“I can’t stress enough the need to be cautious about the spread of the COVID virus and the need to be vaccinated. These outbreaks are avoidable,” Clarke said.

Southern Health said “a number” of those who tested positive were fully vaccinated and the source of the initial transmission had not been identified.

“However, increased COVID-19 activity in the community and province is seen as likely to have played a role” it said. It shows the ongoing risk associated with highly transmissible COVID-19 variants in congregate settings “and the need for ongoing vigilance.”

Stone said staff at the home has been vigilant, but policies made by the province have been wanting. She pointed to designated caregivers not being required to show proof of vaccination until recently and low vaccine uptake in the area.

Roberta Stone, who uses a wheelchair and has arthritis and cognitive issues, has been watching Christmas movies and eating her meals alone in her room. The extrovert who loves being around people taught teachers how to teach music, and is the sister of former NDP cabinet minister Nancy Allan.

She wasn’t able to have visitors prior to the COVID-19 outbreak at Third Crossing Manor because of a respiratory virus outbreak, said her daughter, who is a designated caregiver and had been visiting her twice a week.

“Here’s my mother, sitting there confined to her room, and because of this combination of unvaccinated people and loose policy, she’s deprived of visitation and authentic interaction with her family,” said Stone, a retired high school English teacher who lives on a nearby farm with her husband who is also a designated caregiver.

“I think the staff there are incredible,” she said of the Gladstone care home. “They were doing everything they possibly could, given the situation.” Stone said she’s worried about her mom.

“I’m hoping they have enough staff to do essential things,” she said. “They can get people from other regions, but they have to be overstretched.”

Even with outbreaks at care homes and close to 100 health-care employees in the Southern Health region on unpaid leave because they refuse to get vaccinated or tested for COVID-19, Health Minister Audrey Gordon said Wednesday that the province doesn’t need to ask the Canadian Armed Forces or the Red Cross for staffing help.

“What we’ve implemented already is a provincial approach to a local issue,” Gordon said. “We’re moving staff around,” she said.

They’re redeploying nurses and other staff across several regions to where they’re needed, she said. They have internationally educated nurses, as well as volunteers in some communities, willing to help.

Rather than shifting the burden from one area to another, the health minister said they’re able to level the load “to ensure services are there for COVID and non-COVID cases. We’re certainly not compromising non-COVID care,” she said. “We’re ensuring care is applied equally and equitably across the region. It’s been working very well.”

In a statement, NDP Leader Wab Kinew said outbreaks at care homes in Gladstone, Benito and Arborg are tragic and worrisome.

“Twenty months into this pandemic, the province should be hiring more staff to work in rural care homes and working on a long-term plan for staffing in rural health care.”

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca