'Struggling for help': More than 60 cases of COVID-19 at Anson Place in Hagersville

Anson Place in Hagersville has more than 60 confirmed cases of COVID-19 among staff and residents, and the experience has been "absolutely gut wrenching," one personal support worker (PSW) says.

The Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit says five deaths at the combined long term care home/retirement home were confirmed COVID-19 cases, and it's investigating two other deaths.

Thirty-nine residents and 22 staff have tested positive, says Dr. Shanker Nesathurai, medical officer of health. Now the home is working overtime to try to recruit more workers and volunteers.

Rebecca Piironen has worked there for two years and has been off sick with a respiratory infection. She's tested negative for COVID-19, she says, but she's still ill and wants to be sure.

"It's been absolutely gut-wrenching," she said. "These people are having to die without their loved ones by their sides."

"These are residents who were fine. They were happy people three weeks ago. Some of them are now dead, and it's horrible."

"It's been over a week and we're struggling for help."

The 101-bed home in Hagersville has been rocked by COVID-19 since March 26, when a resident died from the virus. Many of the cases seem to stem from a local funeral, Nesathurai said.

He wouldn't say much about the funeral, citing patient confidentiality in a small town. The funeral was not at Anson Place, he said, and the health unit has traced people who were there.

CBC News has reached out to Anson Place management. But Nesathurai said understaffing has been a problem.

"Twenty-two people is a significant part of their workforce," Nesathurai said. "The people who are working there are working extra hours and doing an extraordinary job trying to keep the institution functioning."

"I'm hopeful they'll be able to hire additional staff in the very short term."

Piironen says staff members there are pooling their resources to see if they know anyone who can help. 

"They're doing the best they can," she said, "but the residents need help and the workers need help."

Long-term care homes across the province are struggling with COVID-19, including outbreaks at Norview Lodge in Norfolk County, and Heritage Green, Wentworth Lodge and Cardinal Retirement Residence in Hamilton. 

Anson Place makes up the majority of Haldimand-Norfolk's 81 cases, and all of its five confirmed COVID-19 deaths so far.