‘Let us in’: B.C. families frustrated with ongoing long-term care restrictions

People with family members in long-term care in B.C. are frustrated, saying it doesn’t make sense that restrictions on visitors will remain in place while many limits on gatherings and events will be lifted.

While those with loved ones in care homes say they understand the need to keep COVID-19 out of these facilities, they have seen the toll that isolation has taken throughout the pandemic. On Thursday restaurants and stadiums will be at full capacity, dancing will be allowed, and big events like weddings won’t have limits on attendance.

Brenda Howard, whose 96-year-old mother lives at a long-term care home in Surrey, says it’s impossible for her family to get excited about these changes.

“We’re easing restrictions and people are all overjoyed. But nothing has changed for the families of people in long-term care. And that’s devastating,” she said.

“I take exception to the fact that we can go to a nightclub now, we can dance, we can go to a Canucks game with thousands of people, but yet families that love their parents or their husbands or their wives are still locked out of long term care … We’re keeping our most vulnerable, isolated. And without us, they’re declining at a rapid rate.”

According to the BC Centre for Disease Control, current restrictions mean residents are only allowed one “designated visitor,” who is allowed to come to the facility even if restrictions are in place or an outbreak has been declared. “Essential” visits are also allowed, and this can include family if they are doing things like “assisting with feeding, mobility, personal care, or communication.” Visitors must provide proof of vaccination, and take a rapid test before going in to see their loved ones.

The province has not said when these restrictions will change, which is incredibly distressing for Howard. She says she’s been told things will stay the same for another month or two.

“I’m sorry, but these seniors don’t have any more time. We almost lost my mom to another stroke two weeks ago. Let us in,” she said.

Emily Doyle, who is a caregiver to her husband David, says the current rules are better than the outright visitor ban earlier in the pandemic. But for people like David who are living with dementia, visits that are limited to once a week and are scheduled in advance just don’t work.

“Maybe that particular day he won’t wake up for me. And that’s the only visit.”

She’d like to see a return to the days where she could drop in more than once a day, pop by with his favourite food, or time her visits around the hockey games David loves to watch. And being the only visitor allowed has meant David can’t see anyone else — including his kids and grandkids.

“The caregivers are very good at looking after him. But that’s not the stimulation he needs. Somebody in care needs somebody to hold their hand, to chat with some, do things with them, take them outside. They need to be part of what they used to be part of to keep some quality of life,” she said.

“The most difficult decision is putting someone into care. But you try really hard to give them the best life that they can have and keep them still involved. COVID has changed all of that, all the restrictions have changed all of that…The rules keep changing. I do understand that they want to keep them safe, but they’re also keeping them away from the people that love them. So that’s very tough on the family, the caregiver — and certainly very lonely and heartbreaking for the resident in care.”

Howard says both she and her sister are allowed to visit her mom. But there’s a large, loving family — including their brother, a dozen grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren who are still effectively locked out.

“When we’ve been allowed in, we notice a huge change in her. She comes alive again,” she said.

“We took her out multiple times a week, we would take her food into her. Her grandchildren would actively visit her. So she had a lot of stimulation. She was with family every day. ”

Both Howard and Doyle said their loved ones lost dramatic amounts of weight when visitors were banned entirely, and the deterioration in their overall health was stark.

New report shows increased use of antipsychotic medication in care homes 

BC Seniors’ Advocate Isobel Mackenzie points to a recent report showing the rising number of seniors who were given antipsychotic medication during the first year of the pandemic.

“The use of antipsychotic medications in long-term care increased significantly during the first year of the pandemic as residents were heavily restricted in their ability to enjoy regular day-to-day routines, including frequent and long visits with family,” the report reads.

“This rate of antipsychotic use is the highest in five years,” the report reads.

Seven per cent more seniors who do not have a diagnosis of psychosis were given these medications, bringing the total to 27 per cent. This is higher than the Canadian average, which is 21 per cent

“I have spoken about this before, we’re continuing to measure it, and we need to be aggressively managing that number down,” Mackenzie said.