Relaxed restrictions worry long-term care home operators

CALGARY (660 NEWS) – Long term care home operators are concerned about the increase in cases of COVID-19 and what a second wave might look like.

Last Thursday, new government orders allowed operators to shift to a risk-based approach, meaning residents who attend low and medium-risk activities outside of the facility no longer need to isolate for two weeks when they return.

Mike Conroy, President of the Brenda Strafford Foundation, which runs five care homes in Calgary, said with cases on the rise, Alberta should be looking at when they re-introduce certain restrictions.

“At a certain number of active cases, whatever metrics you want to put in place, there should be measures to protect seniors in continuing care sights. Whether tat’s further restrictions on visitation (or) better access and more timely access to testing.”

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Earlier this week, Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw said the province loosened these restrictions saying they were harming on people’s health.

Conroy rebuked those claims, saying the change has left more people confused.

“We’re a little bit confounded as to why we would be more permissive in terms of some of the requirements that were meant to control and prevent COVID from continuing care sights and they seem to be moving in the opposite direction.”

While Conroy believes the province is better prepared for the second wave of COVID-19 than at the start of the pandemic, he worries that more cases will pop up as health restrictions are relaxed.

He added the Brenda Strafford Foundation has a plan to help deal with the second wave but doesn’t see the same plan from Alberta Health when it comes to continuing care.