Study on COVID-19 Long Term Care deaths discussion with Dr. Samir Sinha, Director of Health Policy Research at the NIA.
Ontario Long-term care visits resume
Dr. Samir Sinha, Director of Health Policy Research at the NIA, joined CTV news and says that Ontario long-term care home visit restrictions are a bit over restrictive.
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'We've been so blessed': In-person long-term care visits resume in some provinces
By: Jill Macyshon and Solarina Ho
Some experts say the face-to-face visits could be extended further, allowing family caregivers indoor access as well, especially in facilities experiencing staffing shortages. "Making sure that we can make those as safe as possible, because sometimes that lack of care is more deadly if you will … than the virus itself," said Dr. Samir K Sinha, the Director of Geriatrics at Sinai Health System and the University Health Network.
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'It can’t be for nothing': Daughter of Northwood resident wants answers after mother's COVID-19 death
By: Natasha Pace
Dr. Samir Sinha, the director of geriatrics at Mount Sinai and the University Health Network Hospitals in Toronto, says the COVID-19 virus preys on seniors. “When we start looking at seniors who are in their 70s, their 80s and 90s, we see death rates of up to eight, 15 and 25 per cent.” Sinha says we now know that older homes that have multi-bedded rooms are more likely to face outbreaks and have significant death counts.
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Northwood seeks private rooms after COVID-19 tragedy, but will N.S. fund the fix?
By: The Canadian Press
Dr. Samir Sinha, director of health policy research at the National Institute on Aging at Ryerson University, says it's crucial over the next 16 months that large Canadian homes like Northwood move to single-room layouts, even if it requires more government funding. "I hope nobody is haggling over the costs here, especially when so many lives have already been lost," he said in an interview.
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Coronavirus: Facts vs. Fears
Dr. Samir Sinha joined B.C Seniors Advocate Isobel Mackenzie on CTV News to talk about financial supports recently announced by government for seniors- the government announced that Canadian seniors living on a fixed income will be able to get a one-time payment from the government during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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No easy fix for long-term care home problems highlighted by COVID-19
By Laura Osman
Dr. Samir Sinha, director of health policy research at the National Institute on Ageing at Ryerson University, said it's not yet clear if there are major differences between for-profit or private homes this early into the pandemic. All models of long-term care have been struggling with the same problems for a long time, he said.
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‘Where the tragedy really lies’: The crisis in Canada’s long-term care homes
By Ryan Flanagan
"Even the little community transmission we've had has been able to get in and spread around and spread between homes," Dr. Samir Sinha said. "That's where the tragedy really lies for Canada." Sinha's explanation for how COVID-19 could be so destructive in long-term care homes while the rest of the country has avoided such a severe hit echoes that of many others who have closely studied the issue. He said Canada's senior-care sector has long struggled with underfunding and neglect, leading to consequences that include workers being employed at multiple homes and frequently moving between them, making it easier to spread a virus from one facility to another.
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Long-term care outbreaks continue to rise
Dr. Samir Sinha joins CTV News Channel to talk about COVID-19 in long-term care facilities and says, “We are concerned about a 2nd or 3rd wave. If we reopen too quickly & are not careful enough we're going to start seeing more community transmission & then more risks of hospitalizations more risks of deaths in long-term care homes.”
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Coronavirus: Facts vs. Fears
Dr. Samir Sinha joins Dr. Marla Shapiro on CTV News to take questions from viewers and discuss plans some provinces are outlining on how they are going to begin re-opening.
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Long-Term Care: The COVID-19 Battleground
"These numbers unfortunately continue to be under estimates of the scale at which Ontario has actually been battling COVID-19 in care homes, said Dr. Samir Sinha. He joined Katey Goalie on CTV News to talk about the numbers released by the Ontario Government on outbreaks in long-term care.
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COVID-19 devastating Ontario Care Homes
Dr. Samir Sinha joined CTV News to talk about the Ontario gov't temporary increase in wages for frontline staff. He says it is a step in the right direction & people are starting to realize that these workers deserve to have a living wage.
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Ontario requests help from Canadian Forces – Military personnel would be deployed to assist in Long-Term Care homes
Dr. Samir Sinha joins CTV News Channel to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing crisis in Long- Term Care (LTC). “We’re following in the steps of Quebec–Ontario is realizing after a few days of calling in SWAT teams from hospitals that we need extra reinforcement," said Dr. Sinha.
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Dr. Samir Sinha joined the CTV evening news to discuss COVID-19 in long-term care and retirement homes as another outbreak is reported. He says, “We need to stop people from working in multiple homes –the way we can do that is offer people full time work where full time work is available and give them benefits like sick days. If we stabilize the work force- we’ll realize that years of chronic under funding in the sector has created vulnerability, and we’re now seeing its ugly toll.”
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Should you consider moving your loved ones from nursing homes?
Dr. Samir Sinha join’s CTV’s Your Morning to discuss what people thinking of removing their loved ones from long-term care should consider.
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What to consider before removing a loved one from long-term care
By Jackie Dunham
According to NIA Director of Health Policy Research, Dr. Samir Sinha, there are 4 key safety measures to gauge how safe a facility is for your loved ones at this time. Ask the questions, do they:
· Restrict Non-Essential Visits
· Enable Staff to Work at 1 Home
· Mask ALL Staff
· Test and Isolate NOT Just the Symptomatic
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‘Never felt this level of stress’: Geriatric doctor on the virus’ spread, treating COVID-19
By Alexandra Mae Jones
A Toronto hospital doctor who specializes in treating the elderly says that the rising death toll in an Ontario long-term care facility exposes how COVID-19 can “spread like wildfire,” in these facilities. Pinecrest Nursing Home, a facility in Bobcaygeon, Ont., has become a hotbed of COVID-19, with the death toll climbing to 23 as of Sunday evening.
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24 deaths tied to Ontario nursing home
Dr. Sinha joins CTV News to talk about the devastating consequences of COVID-19 in long-term care homes and how the pandemic has been affecting him and other health-care workers.
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Long –term care homes hit hard
Dr. Samir Sinha joins CTV News Channel and answers the question. “How do we get ahead of COVID-19 in LTC? “
1. Make sure every healthcare worker is wearing a mask.
2. Test everyone because we know up to 50 per cent of people might be asymptomatic.
By doing this – we will save lives and limit the spread.
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COVID-19 Concerns in Long-Term Care
Dr. Samir Sinha joined CTV News to discuss concerns around long-term care homes and COVID-19 after the first Canadian coronavirus death in a British Columbia long-term care home.