EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

About 8 in 10 COVID-19-related deaths in Canada are in long-term care (LTC), double the OECD average.1 By July 7, 2020, the National Institute of Ageing reported more than 18,000 cases and 6,851 deaths among residents of long-term care (LTC) and retirement homes (RH) in Canada, as well as almost 10,000 staff cases and 16 deaths; however the majority of deaths have been in LTC.2 Reports in the press, by the Canadian Armed Forces and elsewhere have highlighted the pandemic’s devastating effects in some homes.

This report focuses on steps we can take now to ensure that settings that care for older adults are better prepared for future waves of the pandemic, potentially coinciding with seasonal influenza. It is intended for front-line teams, policy-makers, and others who are spending long hours managing tough situations now, while also trying to look ahead.