‘It’s been really tough’: Families cope with new visitation rules at long-term care facilities, hospitals

“I love you, can you blow me a kiss? Judy asks over the phone.

Fred quickly smiles and presses his lips together and gives an air kiss, visible by

Judy on the other side of the window.

Fred has Parkinson’s and dementia and has been in long-term care for the past two years.

Before COVID-19 hit, Judy would visit her husband regularly.

“ For me it’s been really difficult because I’m used to being here everyday feeding him a meal, visiting him, taking him for walks around the facility,” Hill said.

While the visits are not in person , Hill said she is incredibly grateful for the team at the long term care facility for taking great care of her husband.

Their phone calls assisted by a nurse next to the window is just one way Masterpiece Southland Meadows is trying to facilitate connection with family during the COVID -19 pandemic.

“ We have attached some technology boxes to the top of our T.V’s to allow them to Skype in with their families. We are encouraging phone calls, we are putting landlines into some of the room here just to ensure that we can keep those families connected the best way that we can,” Paula Insfeld , vice president of care at Southland Meadows said.

But others aren’t so lucky, others like Ashley Williams.

Her 29-year-old brother is non verbal with down syndrome and autism.

He lives in a group home in Medicine Hat.

“It’s been really tough, he’s always just smiling and it becomes really hard not being able to see him during this time,” she said welling up in tears.

Unlike some, Williams said virtual video chats are not possible—largely because of his condition.

“With his condition, he doesn’t know what is going on. So it’s really like you can’t explain to him why we can’t see him,” she said.

A string of photos and videos of her brother on social media show just how close they are.

The provincial health officer enacted measures roughly two weeks ago limiting visitors to long -term care facilities, including group homes to one essential designated visitor—leaving many including Williams out.

The measures are intended to protect society’s most vulnerable.

According to the province, there have been nine outbreaks at long-term care facilities so far.

More stringent measures were put in place Friday, banning all hospital visitors. The province says there will be few exceptions that will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

by Tiffany Goodwein

‘It’s been really tough’: Families cope with new visitation rules at long-term care facilities, hospitals

Our Community