I received links to these news reports from several iDigHardware readers as far away as Dubai. To summarize the various news stories, door handles were removed from residents’ rooms in an assisted living facility – allegedly trapping people in their rooms for days – to try to prevent the spread of COVID-19. As I have said before, sometimes the immediate response to a threat does not take all factors into consideration. Fortunately, this story did not end in tragedy and others can learn from it.
~~~
Durham Regional Police are now investigating after a whistleblower at a Courtice retirement home says management removed the door handles on rooms of COVID-19 positive residents, “trapping” them in their suites for days in a bid to halt the spread of the deadly virus. The employee, who wished to remain anonymous, tells CityNews that a manager at the White Cliffe Terrace Retirement Residence ordered maintenance staff to remove door handles on some fourth-floor assisted living suites last week. The employee claims it was done to prevent COVID-19 positive residents from freely moving around the facility.
~~~
The initial details of the incident were contained in a Citytv report on Friday based on an anonymous staff whistleblower who came forward. That individual alleged a manager at the White Cliffe Terrace “ordered maintenance staff to remove door handles on some fourth-floor assisted living suites last week, claiming it was “done to prevent COVID-19 positive residents from moving freely” around the facility.
The removal of the handles was reportedly discovered by a senior employee after several days. The whistleblower told the news outlet that those residents impacted by the action had access to food and were checked on by staff “who tried to work around the lack of door handles.”
~~~
“We don’t know how many, and we don’t know how long these individuals were trapped,” said the associate teaching professor at Ontario Tech University, whose research focuses on family caregiving. “It’s also a fire hazard. Can you even imagine if there was some sort of emergency and they had to vacate the premise? There are so many layers of negligence here.”
Clarington Fire Chief Gord Weir said emergency services and Durham Regional Police are investigating the home as a result of the incident. “Once we became aware of the allegations we had prevention staff attend. Durham Regional Police Services were notified as well, Durham Public Health were notified and an inspector assisted us,” Weir said in an email. “An investigation is ongoing, and what I can say is all residents are safe at this time and there are no issues with any of the rooms.”
~~~
The news video below is from CP 24 in Toronto:
You need to login or register to bookmark/favorite this content.
This is allowable under NFPA Chapter 19, as long as certain conditions are met.
Patient safety and health are foremost, however, when the patient is incapable of making cogent decisions regarding their own safety, measures must be implemented.
My family had a family member with Alzheimer’s (since past on), wandering (both room to room and escaping) is a huge problem in memory care units and assisted living facilities.
All that I have seen, have alarmed locked egress exits connected correctly to the fire/sprinkler system. Staff is constantly on the alert for potential “escapees”. Now add Covid and room to room wandering or lack of social distancing you certainly have a recipe for disaster.
You also most certainly have a recipe for disaster with locking patients in their rooms. The facility by chapter 19 “should have” been designed with this in mind to meet code i.e fully sprinklered, smoke compartmented, a fully trained staff, frequent drills, etc. This is where the problems surface.
Done correctly with a trained staff life will be protected from Covid & Fire. BUT in those two things lies the problem.
Hi Frank –
Not too long ago, I wrote about a change to the IBC which also allows some health care doors to be locked. In my opinion, the code language does not go far enough to ensure life safety – there are too many unanswered questions. I’d love your thoughts on it: https://idighardware.com/2020/10/wwyd-mechanical-controlled-egress/.
– Lori
I would take exception to your opening sentence as this would tend to infer that what this facility did was acceptable. We do not know enough about what exactly was done… but the comment that staff tried to work around the lack of door handles would lead many to wonder if staff too could have become trapped in a room while caring for one of these patients. Clearly, the LSC does provide specific conditions for when special locking arrangements may be utilized in Health Care. Simply removing door handles is not one of those conditions.
WOW…. As an AHJ… Just WOW!!! What would compel the administration to even THINK of doing that? They would have been arrested for endangerment, the second I became aware of this!!! Another reason to have a VERY GOOD DIALOG with Nursing/Assisted Living staff in occupancies such as these so they won’t feel bad when calling for an answer BEFORE they take off the handles!! We will be having our first Assisted Living facility opening in a few months and this will be on the table for discussion.
I love the proactive approach! 🙂
– Lori
Before my mother-in-law passed away from Covid,, the assisted living home used door chimes that indicate when a patient leaves the room . There were several patients who moved throughout the facility against the direction of the staff. One of these ended up in my mother in law’s room and could have been responsible for her infection. Big decision.
I’m sorry to hear that Jim. 🙁
– Lori
Just because no one was hurt doesn’t mean it was correct and should be done again
In my opinion, this is immoral and despicable, as well as unsafe.