Long-term care and COVID-19: The first 6 months

March 30, 2021 — The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected Canada’s retirement homes and long-term care (LTC) homes. Our release takes a closer look at the impact of COVID-19 on LTC residents and staff during the first 6 months of the pandemic (known as Wave 1)Footnote i and provides early comparisons of outbreaks, cases and deaths between the first and second waves (to February 15, 2021).

Key findings

  • COVID-19 cases among residents of LTC and retirement homes increased by nearly two-thirds during Wave 2 compared with Wave 1. 
  • Compared with pre-pandemic years, in Wave 1, LTC residents had fewer physician visits; fewer hospital transfers; and less contact with friends and family, which is associated with higher rates of depression. 
  • In all provinces where it could be measured, the total number of resident deaths was higher than normal during this period, even in places with fewer COVID-19 deaths.
  • Provincial and national inquiries (to date) on COVID-19 in LTC have made similar recommendations and speak to long-standing concerns in the sector.

Featured resources

Report

Explore how COVID-19 has affected Canada’s LTC sector.

Read the report (PDF)

Data tables

The data tables provide information on the effect of COVID-19 on the LTC sector during the first 6 months of the pandemic.

Download the data tables (XLSX)

Footnote

i.
Back to Footnote i in text
Wave 1 is defined as March 1 to August 31, 2020, with the peak period occurring between March 1 and June 30; Wave 2 covers September 1, 2020, to February 15, 2021, and was ongoing at the time of publication.
 

How to cite:

Canadian Institute for Health Information. Long-term care and COVID-19: The first 6 months. Accessed March 19, 2024.

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