CHSLD Château Westmount Honored for Resilience During Pandemic

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A private long-term care home in Westmount was recognized for its resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic with the highest possible honor by the National Assembly on Friday.

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In the lobby of CHSLD Château Westmount, Westmount-Saint-Louis liberal MNA Jennifer Maccarone tearfully presented the staff with the National Assembly Medal to recognize their unwavering devotion to residents over the past 20 months.

“The daily efforts they put in during the pandemic, the untold hours, the dedication, the compassion, the kindness, the perseverance, the time away from their own families, have not gone unnoticed,” Maccarone said. “But what stands out the most is the attention you provide. The family atmosphere. The care your team provides to the residents who live at Château Westmount. “

None of the 112 residents of the house contracted COVID-19 during the first wave of the pandemic, in stark contrast to long-term care homes that are now the subject of an investigation by the Quebec coroner’s office. A common theme during the hearings has been a staff shortage that seemed to be across the network, but that was never a problem at Château Westmount.

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Zara Pilian, Château Westmount CEO and Nursing Director praised the dedication of the staff on Friday. Speaking of the orderlies, he said: “You were never afraid to continue, you never refused to work, not even overtime. … His words come back to me: ‘No, Mrs. Pilian, I don’t want someone from outside to come and take care of my residents. I’ll stay. They are my second family. ‘ “

For Ordinance Bernadette Tadeo, who has worked at home for 15 years, leaving was never an option.

“We agreed that we have to help each other, we have to deal with that,” he said. “We didn’t hear what was going on (in other places) because it’s our job here, to take care of our residents.”

Hassan Lari, chairman of the household users committee, said that since the beginning of the pandemic, the maintenance staff kept the home clean, the personnel responsible for the activities adapted it to the situation, and the administration immediately implemented a communication system. remote between residents and their families. The house also began blogging frequently in March 2020 to keep families informed as the situation progressed.

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“From day one, the professional and dynamic approach to ensuring the health and well-being of users and employees has been exceptional,” said Lari. “The professional and administrative staff even rolled up their sleeves and helped clean residents’ rooms to prevent the spread of the virus and keep our residents safe.”

Staff trudged through the second wave of the pandemic when the home finally saw its first cases, resulting in the deaths of 15 residents.

“We really are a family here,” said Latifa Ait Ben Adi, an auxiliary nurse who has been working at home for a decade. “It was difficult to lose some of our patients because they are like our family.”

He added that the medal was a very moving gesture, a sentiment shared by everyone at home.

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“This recognition we are receiving today is the result of thousands of gestures, decisions, sacrifices and choices that were made by many people,” said Yves Vincelette, clinical consultant for Château Westmount. “This includes our 112 residents, but also their families, our dedicated employees, our nurses, our (nurses) and especially all the support staff who are working in the background.”

Today, 100 percent of Château Westmount staff have been vaccinated against COVID-19, meaning none will be lost once Quebec’s vaccination mandate for healthcare workers takes effect.

“If we find a return to normal life today, it is not by chance, but as a result of great collaboration and hard work,” said Pilian.

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