Sudbury long-term care home still can't admit new residents, six months after provincial order issued

A long-term care home in Sudbury has not been able to admit new residents for six months now, following a provincial order.

The Ontario Ministry of Long Term Care issued what it calls a Cease Admissions Order on December 16, 2024. This means no new residents can move into the nursing home while the order remains in place.

The order came after residents and families made numerous complaints about care at the home, which opened in May 2024 on Algonquin Road in the city's south end.

Provincial inspectors issued six compliance orders after finding standards were not being met under Ontario's Fixing Long-Term Care Act.

Those orders have since been lifted, but follow-up inspections at Extendicare Countryside since December have found some of the same issues are ongoing.

The latest inspection report published by the ministry on June 4 comes from an on-site inspection between May 5 and May 9. These types of inspections are regular check-ins to identify any non-compliance with provincial standards and do not cover complaints or critical issues, which are investigated separately.

Following the inspection, five written notifications were given to Extendicare Countryside for non-compliance. 

These include issues with skin and wound care, including failing to ensure that the care a resident received was documented. The home was also notified about staff not responding to the needs of a resident and not properly cleaning the dining area.

In a statement to CBC News, Extendicare Countryside said the written notifications "are not unexpected or unusual for any Ontario long-term care home. This is helpful feedback that allows us to focus on areas that require additional effort or improvement."

Extendicare added it continues to address gaps and improve care and is encouraged by the home's continued progress.

Despite that, families and residents have continued to voice their concerns in recent months, with Sudbury-area New Democrat MPPs Jamie West and France Gélinas calling for a full inspection of the nursing home.  

In a statement, the Ministry of Long-term Care says it continues to actively monitor Extendicare Countryside through regular inspections and ongoing engagement.