Extendicare Countryside, a long-term care facility in Sudbury, Ontario, recently underwent an inspection resulting in two compliance orders and a $5,500 fine for a repeated violation, as reported by the Ministry of Long-Term Care. Since its opening in May 2024, the facility has been inspected 21 times, with over 100 instances of non-compliance identified. Notably, Extendicare Countryside has been instructed to halt new resident admissions on two occasions, with the second Cease of Admissions Order still in place.
Inspections determine the appropriate course of action based on the impact and risk to residents when a facility fails to comply with regulations. Written notifications are issued for low-risk situations, such as the recent report citing discrepancies in record-keeping and an incomplete annual review of a nutrition and hydration program. Compliance orders, on the other hand, are warranted for significant or moderate risks to residents. The latest report issued two compliance orders: one for inadequate monitoring of a resident’s food and fluid intake and another for insufficient assessment following changes in a resident’s body weight.
Administrative monetary penalties, like the $5,500 fine imposed on Extendicare Countryside, are enforced when a facility disregards compliance orders or receives repeated violations within a three-year span. In this case, the fine was due to a recurring non-compliance issue related to weight monitoring. The only other recorded violation of the weight-monitoring regulation occurred in the previous inspection, where a similar non-compliance order was issued.
In response to these findings, a spokesperson for Extendicare stated that the facility is actively collaborating with the Ministry to implement necessary improvements. Actions mandated by the compliance orders, such as interdisciplinary reviews of residents’ weight and staff re-education, are being undertaken. Additionally, Extendicare Countryside has increased its staff capacity by adding 16 full-time and 16 part-time Personal Support Worker (PSW) positions to enhance care services.