Quebec nurse hopes report on seniors’ homes leads to immediate change

“How is it possible that our voices have been ignored for many, many years?” says registered nurse Loredana Mule reacting to a Canadian Military report on the conditions inside Quebec’s seniors’ homes. A lack of personnel and improper use of PPE are just some of the issues raised. Alyssia Rubertucci has more. @rubertuccinews

By Alyssia Rubertucci and Kelsey Patterson

MONTREAL (CITYNEWS) – A Quebec registered nurse wants to see real change come from a Canadian Armed Forces report critical of the conditions inside the province’s seniors’ homes.

The report released Wednesday found a lack of personnel, high absenteeism and improper use of PPE were some of the reasons these facilities continue to struggle with the spread of COVID-19, though the situation is improving overall.

“How many more people have to go in to realize that we need a desperate change?” asked nurse Loredana Mule. “How is it possible that our voices have been ignored for many, many years?”

Mule is the nurse who first sounded the alarm about the unliveable conditions at Dorval’s Herron Residence, in Montreal’s West island – a story CityNews broke in April. At least 51 Herron residents have died since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“What I saw was gross negligence, shortage of staff, patients dehydrated,” said Mule. “It was quite overwhelming.”

Mule’s observations were echoed in the Canadian military’s 60-page report detailing the inner workings of 25 Montreal-area seniors’ homes over the last few weeks.

More than 60 per cent of deaths related to COVID-19 in Quebec have occurred in seniors’ residences.

Quebec Premier Francois Legault said he was not surprised by the details of the report.

“We understand that the lack of personnel is not helping with the protective equipment,” said Legault. “I also understand, and it’s coming a few times in the report, (the importance of) making sure the same people don’t go in hot zones and cold zones.

“But of course, when you’re short of staff in each CHSLD, you can’t ask people to work only in one place.”

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The military’s report assesses that more staff with medical training is needed. Legault agreed, saying the Quebec government is trying to get 10,000 people trained over the next three months.

“I don’t feel that the government realizes the magnitude and the seriousness of what is actually going on in nursing homes,” said Mule. “Mobile units have to be in every home testing those patients, testing the care workers.”

More than 1,000 Canadian Armed Forces members will remain in Quebec’s seniors’ homes until Sept. 15.

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