Health authority takes over Vancouver care home, site of deadly COVID-19 outbreak

The Vancouver Coastal Health Authority is taking over operations of a Vancouver care home where dozens of residents died during a COVID-19 outbreak that began last November and took months to contain.

A statement from the health authority says the Ministry of Health has approved the transfer of operations and assets from Little Mountain Residential Care and Housing Society.

The transfer includes Little Mountain Place, a 116-bed long-term care home for seniors, where 41 deaths and many more COVID-19 illnesses were reported last winter.

The statement says the transition, which also includes a 96-unit independent living facility and a 73-bed long-term care home for younger adults with complex needs, is expected to be completed in the next few months.

Society president Bob Breen says the pandemic accentuated some ongoing problems including inadequate access to finance, human resources and general administrative supports, as well as a limited ability to attract and maintain staff.

Bob Chapman, interim vice-president of the health authority, says it has worked with the society to support management of the three facilities, but is now in the process of gathering necessary approvals and consulting with stakeholders in advance of the takeover.