Dear friends of Guildwood and beyond,

I’m writing this to ask for your help. Not many of you know this, but our own Extendicare Guildwood is in a crisis. Out of the 169 beds, they now (as of the last communication to family and friends) have 90 covid19 cases, 23+ deaths and climbing, all in the span of about a month. Guildwood Extendicare is reportedly now the 2nd hardest-hit LTCH in Toronto. Firstly, this letter is not intended as a slight against the staff who are risking a lot to carry on and provide care for our loved ones. For that we are appreciative. They are severely understaffed, there is no longer a doctor onsite (working remotely through the select few bonafide nurses that are there). They are struggling to maintain adequate levels of PSW’s to provide even the most basic level of care. The problem lies in the bureaucracy and limitations involved in family intervention to assist, support, or, in some cases temporarily remove our family to provide the level of care that our loved ones need & deserve.  This seems counterintuitive in many ways. The government has already requested untrained and unqualified support from government workers in other occupations to “gown up” and act as temporary PSW’s, but will not allow family to assist in the same manner.

Our asks to municipal and provincial government:

• family visitation to critically ill or palliative patients suffering from covid. (update apparently palliative visits are now being allowed)
• restore the number of qualified staff onsite to ensure all basic care needs are being met
  -allow the removal of the few noninfected residents with the right to return when this subsides
• a doctor should be onsite to ensure the right care and treatment of residents and to ensure proper hand-off to hospitals for acute care when needed
• allow access to the courtyard on-site so that residents can get fresh air and at least have some quality of life, or provide access to family members for window visits to residents facing the courtyard.