McCormick Care Group – COVID-19 Update

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

This is a follow-up McCormick Care Group – COVID-19 Update for Tuesday, April 14, 2020.

We will continue to provide these updates every Monday, Wednesday and Friday as needed.

There are no probable or suspected cases of COVID-19 among our residents or staff at this time.

Ontario’s Chief Coroner has directed that funeral staff are no longer allowed to enter a long-term care home to remove a deceased resident, regardless of their cause of death. Effectively immediately, a new protocol is being put into place, where funeral staff will remain at the entrance of the building and provide the necessary supplies to the home’s staff, who will then collect and transport the deceased to the awaiting funeral vehicle.

This directive includes the mandatory requirement that the remains of any deceased resident be removed from their long-term care home within three hours of their passing.  As such, families should be prepared to provide the name of their preferred funeral home immediately after death has occurred.  If you did not already provide the name of your funeral service provider when your family member was admitted to the home, please contact us with your preference as soon as possible.

Please note that up to two family members are still allowed to visit their family member, one person at a time, during the palliative process.  However, upon the death of the resident, this directive states that family members will be asked to leave the home, as they are not permitted to accompany the body as it is being removed from the building.

We recognize the difficulties associated with this announcement.  We assure you that our staff will do their utmost to provide the highest level of respect and dignity during this process.

We thank you for your cooperation and understanding.