(January 22, 2021)<\/p>\n
By: Colin Redston, Country1053.ca<\/p>\n
The daughter of a Southbridge Roseview resident is among those sharing painful stories of family members in long-term care homes during the second wave of the pandemic.<\/p>\n
Debbie Shubat spoke on a Zoom call Friday hosted by the Ontario Health Coalition featuring other relatives of residents, and representatives from 100 organizations from across the province.<\/p>\n
Shubat lives on St. Joseph Island and says none of her family members have been able to visit her mother Amy since the outbreak began on November 18th.<\/p>\n
She adds that her mother\u2019s condition has worsened during the lockdown, explaining that Amy is no longer able to speak or swallow solid food.<\/p>\n
She emphasizes she\u2019s worried about her mother and is desperate to see her.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t stop thinking about her, I dream about her, and it has been my living nightmare for all these months,\u201d Shubat says.<\/p>\n
Shubat notes she doesn\u2019t blame staff for the two-month long outbreak, but she wants answers about why it has lasted longer and affected more residents than COVID-19 outbreaks at other area homes.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been so pleased with what the staff has been able to do, both PSWs as well as the clinical staff, the medical staff, the dietician, etcetera. But this is inhumane, and it\u2019s gone on far too long,\u201d Shubat stressed.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to say to Doug Ford and [Minister of Long-Term Care] Merrilee Fullerton, the \u201cIron Ring\u201d [protecting long-term care residents] is not there, was not there, and we are devastated,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n