In the late 1990s, she saw her mom’s baths twice a week shrink to a weekly sponge bath, saying her mother fed indefinite “porridge” to staff and was harassed by other residents. These visits were a real relief – one that many seniors have denied during the pandemic. While previous treatment of the elderly in long-term care raises some concerns, Mikelenas-Mcloughlin, 79, says now is the future that worries her. Currently, the widow lives alone in Toronto, but with limited mobility, she knows she will eventually need help. “The concern I have on the line is, will I be able to speak softly to the caregiver and say, ‘Please, turn me gently?’ Mikelenas-Mcloughlin, former president of the Canadian Retirees Association (CARP) Etobicoke chapter, is among supporters calling on the government, long-term care homes and health care providers to ensure that older people do not face the same type of isolation now. did in previous waves of the pandemic.
Their concerns intensify as Ontario records about 100,000 to 120,000 daily cases during this sixth wave of the virus. Maria Mikelenas-Mcloughlin is the former president of the Etobicoke chapter of the Canadian Retirees Association. (Maria Mikelenas-Mcloughlin / Submitted)
Throughout the pandemic, the elderly were recognized as one of the most vulnerable to serious diseases and became one of the first to be vaccinated. At the same time, some of those living in long-term care facilities were neglected and lived in distressing conditions as some provincial facilities were flooded by COVID-19, according to discoveries made by the Canadian Armed Forces and documented in a May 2020 report. Lisa Levin, CEO of AdvantAge Ontario, a nonprofit long-term care provider, says some hospitalized seniors have compared the pandemic to isolation. “What people did not realize was that when nursing homes were in a state of disrepair, not only could they not see their families, they could not even see other residents in their homes,” he said. “They were literally in their rooms and they could not get out.” Since the majority of residents and staff are vaccinated, Levin said she believes people can afford to lower their alert if they follow all precautions. “We no longer need to keep the elderly isolated from their families,” he said. “We have learned that this was almost as devastating as COVID itself.” However, he says, the virus remains a threat. During the pandemic, 4,431 residents of long-term care died, according to a government report – a figure that accounts for more than a third of all Ontario deaths due to COVID-19. “Even though a lot of people are done with it, they are still here … So we have to do everything we can to protect them.”

Poor communication has led to anxiety for the elderly

Craig Thompson, Ontario’s ombudsman, says a common theme in the office’s 3,595 complaints received between 2020 and 2021 was restrictions on long-term care visits and poor communication between management and families. The complaints suggest that both issues led to physical, emotional and cognitive decline in the elderly. “We are talking about a very vulnerable population, so we will continue to see the effects of these restrictions for quite some time to come,” he said. “It is not enough just to take measures to keep people safe. You have to mitigate the risks associated with the restrictions,” he said. Ontario plans to eliminate all remaining COVID-19 restrictions by April 27, including coverage in long-term care homes, nursing homes and healthcare facilities. As of April 12, there are 140 long-term care homes and 117 nursing homes with ongoing COVID-19 cases in the province. And as of March 14, COVID-19 vaccinations are no longer mandatory for industry workers. A woman visits her father’s cross, who sits with others exposed outside the Camilla Care Community Center. (Nathan Denette / The Canadian Press)
Bill VanGorder, a senior spokesman for CARP, says that as the government shows no signs of adopting further restrictions, the burden is on family health providers to advocate for the elderly. “What we need is consistency and the ability for patients and their families, our residents and their families to be able to help make the decision. The elderly want decisions to be made with them – not for them.” He said clear communication is the key, noting that providers should avoid inconsistency with the rules, as it can lead to confusion and anger.

The ministry “to adjust the measures as needed”

The Patient Ombudsman advises health organizations to adopt “less restrictive” limits on risk-based and evidence-based visits, to clearly communicate policies, and to grant exemptions for compassionate visits, according to a report released in March. The Ministry of Health, meanwhile, says it is monitoring long-term care homes and, in consultation with the chief health care practitioner, will “adjust the measures as necessary to keep the homes safe for residents and staff”. “We understand the mental and emotional difficulty of these measures [long-term care] residents, as well as family members and loved ones, “a ministry spokesman said in an email. According to the ministry, all visitors, regardless of their vaccination status, are allowed to enter a long-term care facility. There is no limit to the number of people allowed in outdoor visits, but long-term care homes can limit the number of visitors per resident based on space available. Indoor visits have increased to four visitors or caretakers per resident at a time and the requirements for testing, active control, coverage and physical distance remain in place. As of April 5, about 92 percent of eligible long-term residents have been vaccinated with their third dose and more than 72 percent of eligible residents have been vaccinated with the fourth dose, the ministry said. More than 87.6 percent of eligible long-term care staff have received a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Now that the pandemic has brought long-term care to the fore, Mikelenas-Mcloughlin hopes that more people are realizing the fears that the elderly have lived with for decades. “He should grow old with dignity and respect – and have a voice in it,” he said. “Not in a corner.”