Skepticism as B.C. families promised more access to loved ones in long-term care
After 56 years of marriage, her husband still gave her a kiss at every meal.
The couple lived in the same Kamloops care home until 91-year-old Ron Osborne died a few weeks ago.
And now Coleen Osborne, 89, needs her family more than ever.
But they can’t see her because of spiking COVID-19 numbers and provincial health orders that have shut out all but essential visitors from long-term care facilities.
“My worry is that she is in severe depression and this will kill her, not seeing her family,” said her daughter-in-law Cathy Nelson.
She says the isolation is taking a huge emotional toll.
“I think they (health officials) are making a huge mistake. I really feel if you talk to the majority of seniors, they’d rather risk COVID and see their mother,” Nelson said.
Of the 33,000 long-term care residents in B.C., just 26 per cent had a designated essential visitor prior to the current lockdown, leaving many seniors entirely separated from their loved ones.
“Those visitors are critical for helping with feeding, dressing. And when our staff is in such short supply, these are some things that are extremely important in order to provide the very best care,” said Terry Lake, CEO of the B.C. Care Providers Association.
He says B.C.’s medical health officer should be changing the order.
“What she should say is every resident of long-term care deserves at least one visitor. Period,” said Lake.
But Dr. Bonnie Henry is instead promising to open up care homes to social visitors very soon.
“We’re committed to making sure we can get back to having your one designated social visitor as well as essential visitors as the rapid antigen testing is being rolled out across long-term care homes and as staffing allows in this coming week,” Henry said in a COVID-19 briefing Tuesday.
“This will be in place this week as this is being distributed to long-term care homes and every home develops their plan to support this.”
Despite the promise, one care home operator who did not want to be identified, told CTV News that even if rapid tests were made available to all sites this week, they don’t have the staff to administer them.
Meanwhile, Lake, who told CTV News that B.C. care providers were not consulted about the lockdown order, says some care homes are at the breaking point when it comes to staffing levels.
“The biggest risk to residents in care at the moment is the shortage of staff, not the virus actually because of the booster residents received. So let’s make sure staff stay healthy, that they’re able to work and that family members who help the staff are able to help as well,” Lake said.
Meanwhile, Osborne’s daughter-in-law says despite Dr. Henry’s promise, she holds out little hope that the doors of long-term care facilities will open anytime soon for visitors.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
4th Indian national arrested, charged with murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Homicide investigators in B.C. say murder charges have been laid against a fourth Indian national in connection to the killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a Surrey gurdwara last year.
'I am angry': Alberta farmers will continue fight over world class motorsport resort
The rolling hills leading to the hamlet of Rosebud are dotted with sprawling farms and cattle pastures -- and a sign sporting a simple message: No Race Track.
Man ticketed after allegedly trespassing again at Drake's Bridle Path mansion to get his bike
A man who tried to access Drake’s Bridle Path mansion earlier this week returned to the property Saturday and was apprehended again for allegedly trespassing, Toronto police say.
Couple randomly attacked, 1 stabbed, by group of teens in Toronto, police say
A man has been transported to hospital after police say he was stabbed in a random attack carried out by a group of teens in Toronto on Friday night.
Millions of Canadians have been exposed to potentially toxic chemicals, and they're not going anywhere
For decades, North Bay, Ontario's water supply has harboured chemicals associated with liver and developmental issues, cancer and complications with pregnancy. It's far from the only city with that problem.
Biden calls Trump 'unhinged,' says 'something snapped' in former president after he lost 2020 U.S. election
U.S. President Joe Biden on Saturday called Donald Trump “clearly unhinged” and claimed that “something snapped” in the former president after he lost the 2020 election.
Wildfire that forced evacuation of Fort Nelson, B.C., caused by tree falling on wires, mayor says
The wildfire that prompted the evacuation of more than 3,000 people near Fort Nelson, B.C., was caused by a tree falling on wires, according to the municipality's mayor.
Switzerland's Nemo wins 68th Eurovision Song Contest
Swiss singer Nemo won the 68th Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday night with 'The Code,' an operatic ode to the singer’s journey toward embracing their nongender identity.
IN PICTURES Northern lights dance across the night sky in southern Ont.
From London, to Grand Bend, Collingwood and Guelph, here are some highlights of Friday night and Saturday morning's northern lights display.