"Collapse" was occurring at a nursing home-12 people died in corona-Actually July 15 17:02

In Hokkaido, where the "second wave" of the new corona occurred, 12 elderly people died one after another at a nursing home for the elderly without being hospitalized. Support for rapid spread of infection, staff leaving the field, and unreachable medical and nursing care. The caregiver, who had no choice but to end his life, complained, "It must not be true." What is the testimony of the people involved in "Ibarado Acacia Heights", a nursing home for the elderly in Sapporo, and the actual situation of the "collapse" that was revealed by an internal record that was acquired independently? (Sapporo Broadcasting Reporter Genki Kitai, Yohei Fukuda)

Why I couldn't be hospitalized

89 years old woman. I lived in a nursing home for the elderly for 9 years. I love music and always looked forward to singing together. The woman's daughter says that the staff treated her as warmly as her family.

The daughter of a deceased woman
"I was a bright, cheerful, and gentle mother from a long time ago. I was always laughing. Since I was taken care of for nearly 10 years, it was like a family. I have only fun memories of festivals and birthday parties."

It was April 28 that it was discovered that a woman was infected with the new corona. I was not admitted to the hospital and waited for my physical condition to recover at the facility. However, the condition suddenly changed two weeks later. The next morning, I took a breath. Under what circumstances did my mother die? My daughter wants to know what was happening at the facility.

The daughter of a deceased woman
"I went to the facility immediately after being contacted. The front door is glassed and the mother in the delivery bag can be put into the casket by the staff in protective clothes I could see it over there, but I couldn't see my face and I couldn't meet. It was the hardest time. I was the only daughter, so I felt like I was going to finish my life. I never thought I would die. The most questionable question is why I wasn't admitted to the hospital.”

Infected person who cannot be hospitalized obviously from internal records

At the nursing home for the elderly, Ibarado Acacia Heights, 71 residents were infected and 12 of them died in the facility. The operating company listens to each employee about the situation at that time in order to verify why the deaths are one after another at the facility.

We independently obtained records of investigations that the corporation heard from 13 employees. What was revealed was a scene of a confusing situation facing an unexpected situation.

The first infected person was confirmed on April 26. An inspection by Sapporo City revealed that an additional 14 people were infected the next day. After that, infections were reported from other rooms one after another, and the number of infected people increased to 40 on April 30th. On this same day, the first deaths occurred at the facility.

Infection also spreads to staff. Suspected heavy contact, nearly 80% left the scene. For this reason, the staff repeatedly appealed to Sapporo City, who had been coordinating hospital admission, "I want infected patients to be hospitalized." This is because, even in the document issued by the government at that time, infected persons who came out of a nursing home for the elderly were in principle hospitalized because they had a high risk of getting serious. However, it is said that the city responded that they could not be hospitalized.

On the other hand, the city sent a procedure document summarizing what to do when a person died in the facility. The records of the survey included an offer from the city of a delivery bag (a bag to hold the dead) and the history of the staff getting angry.

Ms. Yukie Suzuki, the person in charge of on-site care, saw 10 people at the facility.

Mr. Yukie Suzuki, General Manager, Nursing Care, Sapporo Keiyukai
“We were unable to provide proper medical care and hospital-like medical care. The nursing home for the elderly is aiming to return home, and not to mention the end of life, but also high-level medical care. It's not a place to provide hospitals, and that's why I wanted to have as many people as possible and be hospitalized as soon as possible for one day."

A site that deepens chaos

Why couldn't the infected be hospitalized?

Another document sent by the city of Sapporo to the facility stated the city's way of thinking. Residents need nursing care, so we want them to stay in the facility for medical treatment. He also said he would consider hospitalization when his condition worsened.

However, in reality, no one was hospitalized from the day the first person was confirmed until May 11, two weeks later. Meanwhile, eight people died one after another in the facility.

Chiharu Sato, a nurse, said that eight of the eight had their condition deteriorated to a level where they should be hospitalized a few days before their death. The records of the survey also indicated that some people had extremely low oxygen levels in their blood.

Chiharu Sato, Manager, Nursing Section, Sapporo Keiyukai
“I had a half-drowned and full-breathing breath. I was wondering if staying at the facility is really right.”

The site was in a state of turmoil beyond our imagination as a number of new infections occurred.

Instead of keeping the infected at the facility, Sapporo City said it would establish a medical system that is no different from a hospital. However, only one doctor was sent during the day, and only when a nurse could be secured. There was no support from the caregiver.

Suzuki, the person in charge of nursing care, says that there were only one carer who normally needed six during the day. The work schedule at that time left us with the appearance that she continued to work every day in an attempt to fill that hole. Even so, the number of workers was overwhelmingly high, and the residents had to stop taking baths, and the number of meals was reduced.

Mr. Yukie Suzuki, Chief of Nursing Care, Sapporo Keiyukai
"It is in an unimaginable state. I was assisted by staff members who had never taken care of themselves. A nurse who came to help me "I saw the failure for the first time. It was really terrible.”

The medical care provision system was also broken. Mr. Sato, a nurse, was temporarily looking at 89 residents, including 50 who were infected. It was revealed that the environment was not sufficient to manage people who needed to inhale oxygen and observe their condition.

Chiharu Sato, Manager, Nursing Section, Sapporo Keiyukai
"There was a complete medical collapse. There were few people who helped, but there are so many people who need help. I think that the facility is really a disaster site. It was a lack of people, busyness and confusion.''

Infection control was also a mere thing. Under the guidance of Sapporo City, infected people were isolated on the second floor, and other residents were gathered on the first floor. However, the same staff was forced to come and go between the two floors.

"Everywhere in the facility, it wasn't strange to be infected."
"I'm afraid, but I can't leave the residents alone."

Interviews screamed at the hearts of the staff, who suffered a great deal of risk and mission.

Sequential sudden changes in condition The reason for improvement is the doctor dispatched to the country

As the site collapsed, the condition of infected elderly people deteriorated one after another.

"The soles of my feet and soles of the hands are purple. I had cyanosis."
" Hey diarrhea, bad sputum, bloody blood."
"It's just that I'm seeing weakness. " "

Suzuki, who is in charge of nursing care, and Sato, who was a nurse, were helpless.

Sapporo Megumitomokai care oversee Yukie Suzuki
"until really the last moment, to pick up the breath, because they thought that was a constant attendance. The voice until the last moment heard, Good luck, and luck, it was not only continue to put a voice."

Chiharu Sato, Manager, Nursing Section, Sapporo Keiyukai
"Isn't this the last time my family wants? I feel sorry, but what could we do more than that?"

The opportunity to improve the situation is May 9th. It was that the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare dispatched a doctor to the scene. I seriously saw the continued spread of the infection.

Akemi Akemi belongs to a medical team in a country that specializes in emergency response in disaster areas. Akahoshi realizes that Sapporo City does not understand the actual situation at the site. It was May 13th that we independently investigated the personnel and supplies needed for the facility and reported it directly to the city's executives. From this day onwards, multiple departments worked together to coordinate hospitalization and secure personnel.

Dr. Akemi Akahoshi, DMAT Secretariat, Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare
“The number of nurses and caregivers was overwhelmingly short, and we were not in a situation to provide the same level of management as hospitals. I think the problem is information sharing. In Sapporo City Hall, it was not clear who was in charge of gathering the information obtained from the facilities from each person in charge, managing them centrally, and instructing countermeasures. "

It was May 16 that the city of Sapporo set up a countermeasures headquarters there. However, by this time 12 people had died in the facility.

"Collapse" caused by lack of beds

If the hospitalization of infected residents was promoted at an earlier stage, the situation could have been prevented from worsening. Asking the person in charge of Sapporo City, it was revealed that it was not realistic to hospitalize the residents of the facility at that time.

At that time, there were more than 20 new infected people in Sapporo city per day. More than 80% of the beds for the severely ill were temporarily buried. If the infectious person in the facility was hospitalized, there was a risk that the city's acceptance system would collapse.

Ryo infection Vice President of Sapporo City Public Health Center Yamaguchi
as the "We, there is the fact that the second wave was the largest state, if the care is people need thought that entering the hospital, from the general public I think it was very difficult to secure a hospital bed from the perspective of human labor.

However, as a result, Ibarado Acacia Heights caused a site failure. Then, the facility had to take on the "mitori" of the infected elderly.

Ryo Yamaguchi General Manager of Infectious Diseases, Sapporo City Public Health Center
"Of course, there are people who recover. However, conversely, there are people who die because they deteriorate. It will be a very tough choice. This was the case when such a situation could occur."

Suzuki, the person in charge of nursing care, shared his thoughts on the 12 people who died in the facility and the staff who saw the death.

Mr. Yukie Suzuki, General Manager, Nursing Care Department, Sapporo Keiyukai
“I am sorry for the fact that I was forced to take care of the residents, and I also consider the feelings of the family members who have to accept it. Some people are too shocked to get back to work even now. I don't really want to experience it, I don't want to experience it. I think it's something I have to carry on my shoulder forever."

To use the lessons learned

A person in charge of Sapporo City told us in the interview, "We would like to make efforts to prevent the severe situation that this facility faced from happening again."

In fact, the city is moving.

If there is a suspicion of a mass infection at a nursing facility, etc., a countermeasures headquarters will be immediately set up on site, and a dedicated team will grasp the situation and issues at the site and take measures.

Furthermore, we have established a “human resources adjustment group” and are working to create a framework for securing personnel in cooperation with medical associations, universities, and nursing facilities.

“Simultaneous disruption” of medical care and nursing care can occur at any facility across the country. With increasing awareness of the second and third wave of infection spread, we will not hunt down those who are engaged in nursing care and medical care so that no infected person will face the same situation, I think that it is necessary to remember the experience that the people involved in Ibarado Acacia Heights told us and to apply the lessons learned.

Sapporo Broadcasting Station reporter
Genki Kitai

Joined the company in 2014. After Hakodate Broadcasting Station and Sapporo Broadcasting Station, Iwamizawa Branch Office. In charge of coverage such as agriculture and medical welfare.



Yohei Fukuda, a reporter at Sapporo Broadcasting Station

. After Okayama Broadcasting Station, Sapporo Broadcasting Station. In the new coronavirus, he is in charge of interviewing governments, medical institutions, and experts.