Extendicare Brampton (7891 McLaughlin Road, Brampton) is operated by Extendicare, a for-profit operator of long-term care homes in Canada. There are approximately 150 beds.
Inspection Reports for Extendicare Brampton
Our research team carefully reviewed and summarized inspection reports for Extendicare Brampton. You can read the original copies of the reports in the Government of Ontario website.
September 2023
Conducted between August 28 and September 6, 2023, the inspection examined allegations of staff-to-resident abuse, inadequate care, falls prevention and management issues, and an unexpected resident death.
Key findings include a failure by Extendicare Brampton to promptly report suspected improper treatment of residents, violating the Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021. Specifically, a whistleblower’s complaint about alleged abuse and improper care by staff was not reported to the Ministry until about a month later, contravening the requirement for immediate reporting under Section 154 (1) of the Act. This delay potentially hindered the investigative and response process.
The report notes that a student personal support worker (PSW) informed PSW #105 of the abuse allegations, but PSW #105 did not report these claims further. The home’s leadership team also delayed reporting the allegations to the Director, contributing to the delay in the investigation and response.
February 2023
The inspection report under the Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021, for Extendicare Brampton, conducted on February 2-3 and 6-10, 2023, reveals several areas of non-compliance in the long-term care facility. The main issues identified are related to infection prevention and control, housekeeping, general requirements for programs, medication management, and administration of drugs.
- Infection Prevention and Control: The facility failed to monitor a resident’s symptoms during a COVID-19 outbreak properly. Despite showing symptoms and testing positive, the resident’s oxygen saturation levels and other vital signs were not consistently monitored as required by the Ministry’s COVID-19 Guidance for Long-Term Care Homes.
- Housekeeping Non-Compliance: The inspection noted a failure in complying with housekeeping procedures for cleaning and disinfection of contact surfaces in resident rooms. High-touch areas were observed not being cleaned or disinfected as per the policy, increasing the risk of spreading harmful microorganisms.
- General Requirements for Programs: The facility did not document assessments and interventions related to a resident’s fluid intake and swallowing, despite the resident being at nutritional risk. This lack of documentation prevented the evaluation of the effectiveness of interventions.
- Medication Management System Issues: There were several lapses in the medication management system. These included improper processing of new medication orders, failure to follow written protocols for discontinuing prescriber’s orders, and incorrect administration of opioid medications.
- Administration of Drugs: The facility did not adhere to prescriber’s directions in administering drugs. In one case, a resident received an opioid dose even after it was discontinued by the physician. Additionally, the last dose of antiviral medication was not administered as prescribed, posing a risk for incomplete therapy.
November 2022
The inspection report addresses issues at Extendicare Brampton, focusing on a critical incident and a complaint. Conducted between October 31 and November 4, 2022, the inspection utilized protocols for medication management, safe and secure home environment, falls prevention and management, infection prevention and control, and skin and wound prevention and management.
- Improper Handling of Wound Care Supplies : The facility was found non-compliant in its skin and wound care program. Specifically, wound care supplies were improperly stored, left open in a resident’s room and exposed to potential contamination. This mismanagement could have heightened the risk of infection, particularly concerning as the resident in question had previously required treatment for infection due to the worsening condition of their wound.
- Lack of Weekly Skin and Wound Assessments: Extendicare Brampton also failed to conduct weekly assessments for a resident with a wound requiring daily care and dressing changes. This omission potentially delayed the identification and treatment of complications related to impaired skin integrity.
September 2021
Inspector Romela Villaspir led the inspection, between September 8-10 and 13-15, 2021, focused on addressing a complaint and ensuring compliance with a previously issued order
- Residents’ Bill of Rights: Violations were found in respecting and promoting residents’ rights to courtesy, respect, proper grooming, and care. Specific issues included delayed response to call bells and neglecting a resident’s request for warmer water during personal care.
- Air Temperature Regulation: The facility failed to maintain a minimum air temperature of 22 degrees Celsius in various areas, compromising the comfort and well-being of residents.
- Plan of Care Participation: Non-compliance was noted in involving residents or their designated representatives in the implementation of their care plans. One instance involved a PSW refusing to provide care with an Essential Care Giver present in the room.
- Care Conference Requirements: The home did not conduct annual interdisciplinary team care conferences for two residents, missing an opportunity for essential discussions on care plans and other important matters.
July 2021
The follow-up inspection, conducted from June 28-30, 2021 by Inspector April Racpan, was focused on ensuring compliance with previously issued orders, particularly concerning infection prevention and control (IPAC) practices and air temperature regulation.
- Non-Compliance in IPAC Program: The facility failed to ensure staff participation in the IPAC program. Specific issues observed included staff not changing or disinfecting personal protective equipment (PPE) as required, particularly when exiting rooms of residents under droplet and contact precautions. This lapse was noted in various staff roles, indicating a widespread issue. Additionally, staff members reported a lack of familiarity with the home’s droplet and contact precaution protocols, pointing to deficiencies in training and understanding of IPAC protocols. This non-compliance raised concerns about increased risks for virus transmission within the home.
- Air Temperature Regulation Non-Compliance: Extendicare Brampton did not adhere to requirements for measuring and documenting air temperatures in resident bedrooms and common areas. Records showed that temperatures were not consistently measured or recorded as mandated. This failure could prevent the timely identification of temperature issues, potentially risking residents’ health, particularly regarding heat-related illnesses.
The inspection resulted in the issuance of a re-issued Compliance Order (CO #001) and a request for a Voluntary Plan of Correction (VPC). The Compliance Order demanded corrective actions including proper PPE usage for new resident admissions, retraining of all non-managerial staff on IPAC protocols, and conducting daily audits to ensure ongoing compliance.
April 2021
The inspection, conducted from March 29 to April 1, 2021, by Sherri Cook and April Tolentino, was a complaint-driven inspection focusing on infection prevention and control (IPAC) practices and visitation, alongside a critical incident related to falls prevention.
- Non-Compliance with Infection Prevention and Control Program: The home failed to ensure that all staff participated in the implementation of the hand hygiene and COVID-19 IPAC precautions for specific residents. Observations showed six staff members not performing hand hygiene in various situations, including after direct resident care and while handling laundry or beverages. Additionally, one staff member was seen improperly handling used gloves. These breaches in hand hygiene and IPAC routines increased the risk of infection transmission among residents.
- PPE Usage and Compliance Issues: Observations revealed that multiple staff members failed to properly use personal protective equipment (PPE) as required for residents needing droplet/contact precautions. This included not donning or doffing disposable gowns, face shields, goggles, or gloves appropriately, and not changing surgical masks after exiting residents’ rooms. Furthermore, inconsistencies were found in the staff’s understanding and execution of the home’s PPE policy, and the policy itself had portions not aligned with Directive #3 and public health best practices. Lack of PPE at point-of-care (POC) for specific resident rooms was also noted.
A Compliance Order was issued, mandating the licensee to ensure adherence to hand hygiene and PPE standards as per public health guidelines. This included retraining of staff and students, revising the home’s Universal PPE policy, ensuring PPE availability at POC, and conducting regular audits for compliance.