Everett Hindley is Saskatchewan's Minister for Mental Health and Addictions as well as Rural and Remote Health, and Seniors (Lisa Schick/980 CJME)

By Lisa Schick/CJME News

Gov’t to accept recommendations, take over management of Extendicare homes temporarily

Aug 5, 2021 | 6:37 PM

There was little beating around the bush on Thursday for Saskatchewan’s Minister for Seniors when it came to the Ombudsman’s report into the COVID outbreak at Parkside Extendicare.

“Today’s report is very troubling and we need to do better. The findings and recommendations in this report provide a clear path to do better,” said Everett Hindley.

The report details a long list of personal, procedural, and systemic issues between the home, health authority and ministry and led to the deadliest care home outbreaks in the province. Hindley apologized for what happened and for what was revealed.

“Frankly, some of it is quite troubling, quite concerning and, on behalf of the residents who died, saddening. It never should have happened. It shouldn’t have happened in this home or in any other long-term care facility in this province.”

Hindley said the province and the Sask. Health Authority will accept and implement the Ombudsman’s recommendations. He said the recommendation to stop using four-bed rooms is already done, implemented at the end of March. And Hindley said a new evaluation and reporting process for long-term care homes is set to be introduced in the fall.

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“We need to make sure we follow through on those as quickly as we can, but the other important factor is that Extendicare does,” said Hindley.

The minister explained that the health authority has been appointed to take over the administration of not only Extendicare’s Parkside home, but all of the company’s homes in the province for 30 days. The purpose being to help the homes accept and see if they can implement the recommendations in the report.

After that, Hindley said the province’s relationship with Extendicare will be “re-evaluated” and, depending on what’s found, it could even be ended.

The minister wasn’t as straightforward on everything. When asked about why, knowing for years that the Parkside home was overcrowded and still used four-bed rooms, it hadn’t been replaced, Hindley talked about those homes the province has put money toward and said that, with Extendicare being an independent company, it has a responsibility to put money toward such things itself.

In her report, the Ombudsman talked about the fact the Ministry of Health had little to do directly with Parkside during the outbreak. When asked about it, Hindley said it’s something the ministry is evaluating and wants to fix in the future.

NDP says ‘no’ to for-profit care

The Sask. NDP leader is laying the deaths during the Parkside outbreak at the feet of the government, alongside Extendicare.

“Scott Moe, Jim Reiter and Minister of Health and Paul Merriman as his successor, made deliberate choices that cost people their lives. The legacy of those choices that killed Saskatchewan seniors must be lasting change,” said Ryan Meili.

Meili called the timeline included in the report damning but also pointed to a cut to how many care aides would be hired in the budget, and what he believes is a lack of action between the first and second waves of COVID cases.

“This record tells you everything you need to know about this government and this premier and their attitudes towards seniors in Saskatchewan. This is a government that decided there was an acceptable level of loss of life, and that included the 42 who lost their lives at Parkside Extendicare,” said Meili.

The NDP have been calling for an end to for-profit long-term care for months and now they’re reviving that call with the release of this report. Meili said the health authority should take over administration of Extendicare’s homes permanently.

“We need to get rid of for-profit long-term care in Saskatchewan – it’s absolutely clear. And if it wasn’t before today, this report makes it completely, crystal clear,” said Meili.

Extendicare apologizes but doesn’t commit

The Extendicare company sent out a statement extending its “deepest condolences” to those in its homes affected by the pandemic. In a later update, it also apologized.

“We are deeply sorry for what happened during the COVID-19 outbreak at Parkside and the many challenges it brought,” wrote an Extendicare spokesperson.

However, Extendicare did not commit to accepting or implementing the recommendations in the Ombudsman’s report, just saying it will carefully consider them.

The company did say that the pandemic has exposed weaknesses in healthcare and structural challenges in the long-term care system. It said these problems need to be addressed, like replacing old buildings, increasing funding, and increasing the supply or nursing staff.

Extendicare said it’s grateful to the SHA for its support, and will work with it “to deliver the high-quality care that seniors need and deserve.”

The company did not make anyone available for an interview.