Province opening auxiliary facility for long-term care homes experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks

By

Published December 30, 2020 at 10:59 pm

hospital

As it did during much of the first wave, COVID-19 continues to decimate residents and staff of long-term care facilities.

As a result, the Province is introducing a new Specialized Care Centre that will house and care for residents who must be relocated due to the virus.

The new facility will function as a temporary extension of Toronto Grace Health Centre to offer surge capacity for long-term care homes across the GTA that are managing a COVID-19 outbreak, as well as challenges associated with the pandemic, such as shortage of staff, and lack of supplies.

“We are grateful to the Specialized Care Centre Steering Committee for its work to quickly establish these new surge capacity spaces for our long-term care residents,” Merrilee Fullerton, Minister of Long-Term Care, said in a news release.

“By working closely with all of our partners, we are committed to finding innovative solutions to help protect our loved ones as we continue our fight against the second wave of the virus,” she continued.

Upon completion, the facility will have space (fully-furnished) for up to 90 residents, with access to therapy rooms—however, when it first opens, it will only have 30 spaces.

The length of stay will vary for each resident, depending upon individual needs as well as the situation in the resident’s long-term care facility.

“Today’s announcement will support further prevention and containment efforts to protect our most vulnerable,” Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, said in the same release.

“This Specialized Care Centre being announced today will support health system capacity to ensure that our loved ones have access to the quality care they need,” she continued.

insauga's Editorial Standards and Policies advertising