Death rate among long-term care homes higher in for-profit facilities

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Published May 7, 2020 at 10:41 pm

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The death rate for those who contract COVID-19 in long-term care facilities is higher in for-profit compared to non-profit and publicly-owned homes.

According to a study from the Ontario Health Coalition (OHC), the number of deaths related to the virus is significantly higher in for-profit homes compared to non-profit and municipal homes.

According to the findings, there have been 1,057 deaths in long-term care facilities due to COVID-19. Of these, 700 have been residents of for-profit facilities while 275 were residents of non-profit homes 82 were residents of municipal homes.

Based on these findings, the death rate, which was determined based on by the proportion of deaths over the total number of beds in homes with COVID-19 outbreaks resulting in death, is nine per cent for for-profit homes, 5.25 per cent for non-profit homes, and 3.62 per cent for municipal homes.

Additionally, the findings indicate the death rate for for-profit homes has increased since April 28 compared to the death rate for non-profit homes, while the death rate for municipal homes has decreased over this period.

From April 28 to May 5, the death rate for for-profit homes has increased by 28.52 per cent, while the death rate for non-profit homes has increased by 14.15 per cent, and the death rate for municipal homes has declined by 18.46 per cent over this time.

“The data shows that for-profit homes have a much worse record than public and non-profit homes,” Shalom Schachter, a member of the OHC and the person responsible for the study, said in a news release.

“Already even prior to COVID-19 it has been recognized that the current model of delivering long term care has to be overhauled. The pandemic has brought to the fore the consequences of the current model. The overhaul should respond to the ways that ownership impacts quality and outcomes of care,” he continued.

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