(April 28, 2021)<\/p>\n
By: Sue-Ann Levy, Ottawa Sun<\/p>\n
Some 99% of long-term care (LTC) and retirement home residents have been vaccinated with both doses, and yet they\u2019re still locked into facilities \u2014 not free to even venture outdoors with the nice weather.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s been more than a year of loneliness and isolation for them.<\/p>\n
At an Ontario Health Coalition media conference this week, families of loved ones spoke about how wives are not being permitted to see their husbands, even after having COVID and two vaccinations.<\/p>\n
One daughter said the only way she can see her dad is to remain in his room \u201cin isolation alone with him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sandra Caleta, who heads Advocates for Long-Term Care Ontario, said a lot of families are telling her that their loved ones in LTC are not allowed outside and in many cases are \u201cisolated to their rooms\u201d even when a home is not an outbreak.<\/p>\n
\u201cI understand that homes are being cautious but it\u2019s overcautious at this point,\u201d she said. \u201cWe have to return some quality of life to these residents \u2026 they\u2019ve sacrificed an entire year for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said \u201cthey\u2019re just existing at this point\u201d and that\u2019s not enough.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey need to live again,\u201d Caleta said.<\/p>\n
Ontario Tech university associate professor Vivian Stamatopoulos said on April 1, an updated directive came from the LTC ministry granting outdoor access to residents.<\/p>\n
She said Ontario\u2019s associate chief medical officer of health Barbara Yaffe indicated more would be forthcoming but nothing happened.<\/p>\n
Stamatopoulos added that Ontario LTC minister Merrilee Fullerton is \u201cnowhere to be found.<\/p>\n
\u201cNone of this makes any sense,\u201d she said. \u201cThe figures are pretty stable in LTC homes because of the vaccination rates and families are upset.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said families feel they\u2019re \u201cjust being penalized for no reason\u201d at this point when there may be little time left to spend with their loved ones.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s inexcusable,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Rob McMahon, spokesperson for the long-term care ministry, said last month, they told homes that it\u2019s critical to support resident wellness \u201cby ensuring residents can go outdoors\u201d \u2014 offering opportunities for caregivers to be with loved ones outside their rooms and \u201cresuming small group activities.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is important for residents to be able to engage in physical activity and take part in activities that bring them joy, comfort, and dignity while still remaining safe (from the variants),\u201d he said.<\/p>\n