COVID-19 in Long-Term Care Homes in Ontario and British Columbia

Early release, published at www.cmaj.ca on September 30, 2020. Subject to revision. ANALYSIS HEALTH SERVICES COVID-19 in long-term care homes in Ontario and British Columbia Michael Liu AB, Colleen J. Maxwell PhD, Pat Armstrong PhD, Michael Schwandt MD MPH, Andrea Moser MD MSc, Margaret J. McGregor MD MHSc, Susan E. Bronskill PhD, Irfan A. Dhalla MD MSc n Cite as: CMAJ 2020. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.201860; early-released September 30, 2020 eople living in long-term care (LTC) homes in Canada have been far more likely to die of coronavirus disease KEY POINTS 2019 (COVID-19) than the rest of the population.1 How- • Many more residents living in Ontario long-term care homes Pever, the effect of COVID-19 on residents in LTC has varied across have died from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) than in provinces and territories. For example, as of Sept. 10, 2020, British Columbia. according to publicly available data, there were 5965 resident • Before the pandemic, the long-term care system in British cases and 1817 resident deaths in Ontario LTC facilities com- Columbia exhibited a number of potential strengths relevant to pared to 466 cases and 156 deaths in British Columbia care facil- pandemic preparedness compared with Ontario: there was ities (Table 1).2,3 Rates of severe acute respiratory syndrome better coordination between long-term care, public health and hospitals; greater funding of long-term care; more care hours coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection (7.6% v. 1.7%, respectively) for residents; fewer shared rooms; more nonprofit facility and COVID-19 mortality (2.3% v. 0.6%, respectively) among resi- ownership; and more comprehensive inspections. dents in LTC were several times higher in Ontario than British • During the first wave of the pandemic, British Columbia was Columbia, although case fatality rates were similar. faster than Ontario in responding to COVID-19, with actions to We consider the reason for these differences by examining address public health support, staffing, and infection pandemic preparedness in LTC and subsequent first-wave prevention and control. pandemic responses in LTC in Ontario and British Columbia by • Leaders in British Columbia were more decisive, coordinated means of a comparative case study (Appendix 1, available at and consistent in their overall communication and response. www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.201860/tab-related -content).4 We focused on Ontario and British Columbia because these large provinces had stark differences in COVID-19 How was long-term care different in Ontario outcomes, despite similar LTC systems. Our analysis suggests and British Columbia before COVID-19? that the difference in outcome has been primarily due to differential risk in residents in LTC acquiring SARS-CoV-2. Characteristics of residents Before the pandemic, the age and sex distribution of residents in What role do provinces play in the provision LTC were similar in the 2 provinces (Table 2).9,10 Although resi- of long-term care? dents living in Ontario LTC homes appear to be more medically and functionally complex, it is unclear whether these are true dif- In Canada, LTC homes provide support and a place to live for ferences or reflect differing documentation practices, which may adults who can no longer live independently.5 The Canada Health arise as a consequence of different funding formulas.15–17 Act requires all provinces to ensure that eligible individuals do not have to pay directly for “medically necessary” physician and hos- Funding, staffing and direct care hours pital services.6 Personal support and nursing provided in LTC In 2018–2019, the average combined funding per resident per homes are not covered under the Act.7 As a result, policies, funding diem was higher in British Columbia ($222) than in Ontario and standards concerning LTC are decided by provincial govern- ($203).10,11 Most of this funding is used to pay staff in both ments. The Long-Term Care Homes Act and the Community Care provinces.11,14 and Assisted Living Act are the applicable laws in Ontario and BC, Some estimates suggest that, before the pandemic, resi- respectively. Both provinces provide funding for LTC homes, with dents in British Columbia received more daily hours of direct residents also typically providing a copayment. care (3.25) than residents in Ontario (2.71).10,12 There are © 2020 Joule Inc. or its licensors CMAJ E1 Table 1: Coronavirus disease 2019 cases and deaths among Table 2: Characteristics of residents in long-term care residents in long-term care facilities in Ontario and British facilities in Ontario and British Columbia Columbia (2020) Characteristic Ontario BC Ontario* BC† Resident demographic characteristics (2018–2019)* No. of facility outbreaks (current and resolved) 436 72 Average age of residents, yr 83 84 ANALYSIS Cumulative no. of resident cases 5965 466 Residents age 85 and older, % 54.8 56.0 Resident infection rate, % 7.6 1.7 Female residents, % 67.1 63.9 Cumulative no. of resident deaths 1817 156 Resident health and functioning characteristics (2018–2019),* % Resident mortality rate, % 2.3 0.6 Diabetes 27.8 20.5 Resident case fatality rate, % 30.5 33.5 Arteriosclerotic heart disease 15.5 5.3 *Data up to Sept. 10, 2020, from Public Health Ontario (includes only long-term care Congestive heart failure 12.7 11.2 homes). †Data up to Sept. 10, 2020, from BC Centre for Disease Control (includes acute care, Hypertension 64.3 47.6 long-term care and independent living facilities). Dementia 63.5 63.7 Depression 32.7 22.8 currently no minimum staffing or care time requirements in Asthma 4.7 2.4 either province. Several studies have shown inverse relations Emphysema/COPD 15.3 12.0 between staffing levels and care hours, and poor outcomes ADL index hierarchy score of 3 or 86.1 73.6 such as rates of infection and hospital admission among resi- more (extensive supervision) dents.18–21 Recent studies have also shown an association CPS score of 5 or more (severe to 22.3 22.7 between low staffing levels and COVID-19 infections within LTC very severe impairment) homes.22–24 Many LTC staff, in particular care aides or personal sup- Facility characteristics (2018–2019)* port workers, are underpaid and less likely to secure full- No. of beds ~79 000 ~27 000 time positions relative to their counterparts in other sectors (2019)† (2019)‡ of the health care system.25,26 As such, staff frequently take Cumulative no. of residents in 110 161 36 829 on several part-time or casual roles at different LTC homes, 2018–2019 which increases the risk of transmission among facilities. Funding and direct care hours Some LTC homes also subcontract out services such as laun- Average funding per resident per 203 $222 dry, cleaning and cooking, further increasing transmission diem, $ (2018–19)§ (2018–19)‡ risk.27 In addition, subcontracted staff may have less access Average direct care hours provided 2.71 (2019)¶ 3.25 to paid sick leave — a critical element in allowing staff to (2018–19)‡ self-isolate when ill. All of this is in line with evidence that Shared rooms staff are the main vectors of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in LTC Residents in private (1-person) 37 (2020)** 76 (2019)‡ facilities.28–30 We are unaware of data that allow for compari- rooms, % sons of wages and rates of multisite employment between Residents in shared (2 or more 63 (2020)** 24 (2019)‡ Ontario and British Columbia. people) rooms, % Ownership of facilities Shared rooms No. of facilities 626 (2019)† 294 (2019)‡ Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, LTC residents in Ontario were For profit, % 58 (2019)† 34 (2019)†† more likely to reside in shared rooms (63% of residents) than those in British Columbia (24%).10,13 In the hospital setting, Not for profit, % 42 (2019)† 66 (2019)†† rates of infection associated with health care are lower within Note: ADL = activities of daily living, COPD = chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, wards featuring single-patient rooms,31 and a recent population- CPS = Cognitive Performance Scale. *Data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information: Profile of Residents in based retrospective cohort study in Ontario showed that LTC Residential and Hospital-Based Continuing Care, 2018–2019.8 residents living in shared rooms were more likely to contract †Data from the Ontario Long-Term Care Association: This Is Long-Term Care 2019 report.9 SARS-CoV-2 (preprint citation).13 ‡Data from the BC Office of the Seniors Advocate: Long-Term Care Facilities Quick Facts Directory.10 Funding figure includes resident copayments and goes toward staffing costs, food and supply costs, administration, repair and maintenance, housekeeping Business models and landscaping services, property costs and capital. §Data from the Financial Accountability Office of Ontario: Long-Term Care Homes Program In both provinces, LTC homes are managed on a nonprofit or Report. Funding figure includes resident copayments and goes toward nursing and personal for-profit basis. More LTC homes in Ontario are managed on a care, program and support services, raw food, basic accommodation, construction funding 11 9,14 subsidies for new or redeveloped beds, and physiotherapy and behavioural supports. for-profit basis (58%) than in British Columbia (34%). Exist- ¶Data from the BC Care Providers Association: Filling the Gap report.12 ing evidence suggests that, on average, for-profit homes **Data from Brown et al.13 deliver inferior care across a variety of process and outcome ††Data from the BC Office of the Seniors Advocate: A Billion Reasons to Care report.14 E2 CMAJ measures.32–35 A preliminary retrospective cohort study of LTC How were the Ontario and British Columbia homes in Ontario found that for-profit status was associated long-term–care responses to COVID-19 different? with the extent of COVID-19 outbreaks and number of resident ANALYSIS deaths.36 The relation between profit status and outcomes is Leadership and communication complex and mediated or confounded by several factors Coronavirus disease 2019 was first diagnosed in Ontario on including staff unionization, chain ownership and availability Jan.

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