Canada's long-term care system failed elders, before and during COVID-19: report

A report on Canada's nursing homes says Canada has failed in its duty to protect vulnerable elders.

The highly critical report examines the issue in light of the COVID-19 crisis.

The Royal Society of Canada found the pandemic was a ``shock wave'' that exposed many long-standing deficiencies in the system and caused high levels of ``physical, mental and emotional suffering'' for seniors.

Scores of seniors died in the care homes, especially in BC, Ontario and Quebec.

The report says 81 per cent of all COVID-19 deaths have been in care homes.