A recent revelation has brought to light a 2022 report commissioned by Quebec’s Ministry of Health, exposing dire conditions in approximately 60 long-term care homes (CHSLD) throughout the province.
The report, uncovered by Les Usagers de la Santé du Québec (LUSQ), highlights significant concerns regarding the hygiene and sanitation standards in these facilities, posing a serious risk to the health and safety of residents.
Paul Brunet, a patient rights advocate, expressed his dismay at the government’s decision to keep the report confidential due to its alarming findings. The report sheds light on issues such as poor hygiene, substandard food quality, inadequate training, and overall deficiencies in the quality of care provided at these long-term care homes.
Pierre Blain, the executive director at LUSQ, emphasized the importance of transparency in addressing the critical issues revealed in the report, particularly concerning the nutrition and general conditions in the long-term care facilities.
Highlighted in the report by L’institut de Tourisme et D’hôtellerie du Québec (ITHQ) are shortcomings in food production practices, with concerns raised about the compromised food safety and overall quality of the meals served to residents.
The report also pointed out various facility maintenance concerns, including leaky ceilings, mold growth, unsanitary drains, rodent infestations in kitchen areas, and lapses in basic hygiene practices among staff members.
Blain stressed the urgency of the situation, noting that no significant actions have been taken to rectify the issues identified. He called for increased oversight and emergency visits to CHSLD facilities across Quebec to ensure the well-being of residents.
In response to the distressing findings, LUSQ is urging the government to conduct more frequent inspections and address the systemic issues plaguing long-term care homes in the province, emphasizing the importance of providing quality care to those in need.
