Man fears for father's health after COVID-19 diagnosis at London, Ont. nursing home

With at least 40 COVID-19 related deaths in long-term care homes across the province, a man whose father lives in a London, Ont. nursing home where two residents tested positive is fearing the worst.

On Sunday, London public health officials confirmed the first case in a long-term care home in the region. The woman, in her 80s, has since been hospitalized. CBC News later confirmed she was a resident of Henley Place, a nursing home located in the city's north-east.

The home also confirmed a second resident tested positive, but did not provide details about the case.

While a spokesperson for the facility said they're following infection control protocols and direction from the Middlesex-London Health Unit, a man whose father lives in the facility fears it may lead to an outbreak.

"This is the worst case scenario," said David Corcoran. "We've all seen what's happened in Pinecrest," he added, referring to the 12 residents and volunteer who died at a nursing home in Bobcaygeon, Ont. 

"Now they're all locked up in this place and it almost feels like a death sentence," he said.  

Age and underlying medical conditions make seniors vulnerable to developing severe complications from COVID-19. In London, three people over the age of 70 have succumbed to the illness. 

Corcoran's father, who's in his 80s, moved into Henley Place after a series of falls and health complications last year. He says that from what he hears from his father, the situation has created additional stress for him.

"He's quite concerned and anxious," Corcoran said. His father is now in isolation, along with other residents. "He's at a point of just being overwhelmed where he just can't even talk about it … It's obviously weighing on him."

Which long-term care residents get tested?

During the last month, Ontario's Ministry of Health has ramped up measures in an effort to keep COVID-19 out of long-term care homes. At first, all visitors were being screened for symptoms and travel histories and then homes were advised to restrict any non-essential visitors. 

Henley Place had already been closed to visitors for more than two weeks before families were notified of the resident who tested positive. It raised more concern for Corcoran, wondering if a staff member who may have been asymptomatic brought the virus in.

Once Henley Place notified Corcoran of the case, he immediately asked whether or not they would be testing the other residents and staff for the virus, but officials said testing is done following direction from the public health unit. 

"I was distraught and concerned when they told me that," Corcoran said. 

"It feels like watching a slow-motion trainwreck and I just wish people were doing everything possible, including blanket testing, to give us a chance at stopping this before more people die," he added.  

Middlesex-London Health Unit's website states that, according to Ontario Ministry of Health guidelines, testing long-term care residents or staff showing symptoms will be prioritized when there's shortage of testing kits.

"This is the most vulnerable population, so I don't understand why [testing] isn't being put into place," Corcoran said.

While the province has moved to ensure that anyone symptomatic at seniors' facilities will get tested, Dr. Samir Sinha, the director of geriatrics for the Sinai Health System and a provincial advisor on seniors' health issues, says everyone at a long-term care homes should be tested when there's an outbreak. 

"That's important so that we don't miss cases that could allow us to further spread this virus around and potentially kill more people," he said.

What's Henley Place doing? 

Jill Knowlton, the chief operating officer for Primacare, which manages Henley Place, told CBC News that all residents who were living on the same floor as the woman who tested positive fro COVID-19 have been isolated and are receiving their meals by tray in their rooms. 

"I want to reassure other families and the public that we have well-established policies and procedures for preventing the spread of infections," she said. 

In addition to increased cleaning, Knowlton said staff have been using personal protective equipment, such as masks, gloves and gowns while caring for all residents.  

As of Wednesday, in addition to the case at Henley Place, two more senior homes in surrounding areas have residents who have contracted the virus, including two people at Greenwood Court in Stratford and one at Hillside Manor near Sebringville.

According to public health officials across the province, 29 seniors' facilities have declared outbreaks.