By Matt Fetinko

Seniors hoping for in-person visits at care homes soon

Jun 12, 2020 | 4:15 PM

PRINCE GEORGE — BC’s Restart Plan is humming along but most seniors living in care homes are still unable to have visits with family. While most families are itching to see their loved ones in person, not seeing them could also be affecting their mental health.

Both seniors in care homes and their families have come forward recently bringing up the issue of in-person visits, according to the BC Seniors Advocate. However, it is understood safety is the top priority, especially as more places reopen and the risk of outbreaks remains.

“Even though we now find things opening up, there is still perhaps even more reason to be cautious because those of us who want to see our parents, for example, will be seeing more people,” explained Dawn Hemingway, who is on the BC Seniors Advocate Council of Advisors, before moving on to the mental health implications of the distanced meetings. “Especially for someone who is very used to having that interaction with family and friends, it’s stressful because that’s been your way of staying socially connected. It’s a real stress for families as well knowing that they’re not there and they’re used to being there and is my loved one getting the care they need. So there are a lot of issues that can arise.”

Care homes have gone the route of technology for the most part with Skype or Zoom calls being the substitute for visits. For places like Simon Fraser Lodge, even window visits are available to get a little closer.

“Families will call us about ten minutes before they leave the house and if their loved one’s window is on an outside part of the building we just coordinate that they will be in their room at that time,” explained Cecelia Osmond, Recreation Coordinator at Simon Fraser Lodge. “It’s been tough. We have families that have never set foot in this place and they haven’t seen their loved one for a couple of months. So we’ve offered them a virtual tour like this is what mom or dad’s room looks like, this is the dining room or where they sit when they’re not in their room so it brings them a little bit of comfort that the place is clean and they are being well cared for.”

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There is no timeline on when in-person visits will be more commonly allowed but once they are, Osmond said, “There will probably be lots of tears of joy when we are able to have visitors come in but it’s best to be safer than sorry.”