Twenty months after the start of the pandemic, everything is not always clear in the relations between the CISSS and the residential centers for the elderly.
This is the case of the Center Dr-Michel-Leduc, one of the four establishments of the Quatre Saisons residences, in Coteau-du-Lac, where several residents were confined to their rooms and deprived of visits, even those of a caregiver. doubly vaccinated, due to an outbreak of COVID-19.
The children of a resident, Louise and Mario Dupuis, recounted their setbacks to Press. For four weeks, despite repeated calls, they were unable to set foot in the facility and see their 85-year-old mother, who had Parkinson’s.
PHOTO PHILIPPE BOIVIN, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
Louise Dupuis, whose mother lives at the Dr-Michel-Leduc Center
As of Thursday, the situation still had not returned to normal, but was on the way to recovery.
This private establishment welcomes patients sent by the Integrated Health and Social Services Center (CISSS) of Montérégie-Ouest, which rents the 440 spaces. Most patients have dementia and others have mobility problems.
After he was struck by an outbreak of COVID-19 on October 22, the management of the establishment implemented a safety protocol, confined residents to their rooms and prohibited visits, even those of family caregivers. , believing to comply with the directives of the CISSS and Public Health.
“It’s a building divided into eight units,” explains owner Ronald Vinette. Two units were placed on restriction. We had cases of COVID, yes. The CISSS, during the outbreak period, decided to close the building to visitors, as a precaution. ”
The building is rented. All clients, all residents, are residents of the CISSS. They are the ones who control arrivals and departures. It is not us. There is no one in the Center Dr-Michel-Leduc who has signed a lease. They are all in the intermediate resource program.
Ronald Vinette, owner of the residence
But everything seems to indicate that the establishment has misinterpreted the instructions.
The CISSS explained that the ministerial directives specified that in the event of an outbreak in a residential environment, family caregivers who have taken infection protection and control training can visit residents. The number is however limited to one caregiver per resident per day.
The fact that there was a misinterpretation appears to be confirmed by the content of a letter sent by the establishment to residents and their families, dated October 29. This letter clearly states that visits are suspended, except for those of family caregivers who have completed the mandatory training. This brief training lasts 15 minutes.
“A follow-up was made with the resource to confirm that all identified and trained caregivers can be admitted to the resource if the ratio of one caregiver per resident per day is respected,” said the spokesperson. from the CISSS de la Montérégie-Ouest, Jade St-Jean, in an email, Thursday.
“Looks like we’re being held hostage”
The consequences of this misinterpretation were nevertheless painful.
“It looks like we’ve been taken hostage,” laments Louise Dupuis, whose mother has been living at the Dr-Michel-Leduc Center for a year. “Our mother is here. Then she lost a lot in the past month; she has much more difficulty walking. His legs are not strong. The doctor said so, if she stops walking, it’s over. She won’t move any more. ”
Mme Dupuis and his brothers were able to speak to their mother on the phone, but for weeks they were unable to visit her. They were also unable to obtain information.
When I call, I always deal with the receptionist. There is no way to talk to anyone else. He’s the only person I can manage to talk to.
Louise Dupuis
“Decisions are made we do not know by whom, we do not know how or why,” adds his brother, Mario Dupuis.
Calls from Press at the CISSS de la Montérégie-Ouest, however, helped to unblock the situation. The CISSS asked the management of the establishment to call the families of the beneficiaries to tell them that the trained caregivers were again admitted to the establishment.
Who is responsible for this misunderstanding?
The CISSS reminds that the owner of the intermediate resource is responsible for the quality of the living environment and the support or assistance services provided to the beneficiaries. “Consequently, he is responsible for managing the staff in place. For example, it must manage the visits of family caregivers by ensuring that information is taken and the register is kept up to date ”, specifies the CISSS.
But isn’t the CISSS required, as an agent of the health system, to ensure that the instructions are understood and followed?
“We make recommendations. We support, we put in place measures, we make sure that the hot zones are well respected. We say: here is what you must do, but it is its staff, ”specifies the spokesperson for the CISSS, speaking of the owner of the establishment. “He’s the manager of the place. ”