3rd coronavirus-related death reported at Markham home for adults with disabilities
Posted April 23, 2020 3:54 pm.
Last Updated April 23, 2020 5:44 pm.
A third resident of Markham’s Participation House, a long-term care home for adults with physical and mental disabilities, has passed away.
Mayor Frank Scarpitti shared the news on Twitter, offering his condolences to the family of the 70-year-old man who lived in Participation House’s Butternut Lane residence.
As of Thursday, 40 of 42 residents of the home have tested positive for COVID-19 along with 31 staff members. Two other residents — Patricia Baird who was a resident for five years, and 58-year-old Martin Frogley — have died. The test results for the two other residents are still pending.
Another of Participation House’s long-term care homes, Farintosh Home, has reported one case among their staff. All nine residents who live in the home and all staff have been tested.
Staffing at the long-term care home has also been a critical issue as many full-time staff members, including all Personal Support Workers, walked off the job after an outbreak was declared on April 9.
A statement from Participation House says they have been able to make up some of their staffing shortages through a series of different sources. Former MP Dr. Jane Philpott assembled a small group of doctors for assessments and on-call capacity while a group of local nurses also stepped up.
Markham Stouffville Hospital has also provided a medical assessment team, medical equipment, food and a human resources team. York Region paramedics are also assisting on-call doctors.
