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After two waves of COVID and far too many deaths to count due to isolation, you’d think the provincial government would get it that unfettered access by family caregivers to their loved ones in long-term care homes and other congregate care settings is not just important, but essential.
Yet there are homes that allow access to caregivers while others are saying if they “feel it is unsafe” they don’t have to let families in.
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Jennifer Penny’s 81-year-old mom died of COVID-19 on Boxing Day, two days after staff at her Niagara Falls long-term care home claimed she was “doing well” despite testing positive for the virulent virus.
In an emotional presentation to an Ontario Health Coalition (OHC) Zoom media conference attended by more than 100 seniors advocates, union members, health professionals and families of residents in LTC homes the Oshawa woman said she drove through a snowstorm from home to Niagara Falls on Christmas evening after being called suddenly and told that her mom was no longer eating and drinking.
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According to the report, had the province provided the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to all Ontario LTC residents by Jan. 21, around 530 deaths would be prevented, with the worst-case scenario at 120 deaths and the best case at 900.
If it provided the first dose to all residents by Jan. 31, around 340 deaths linked to COVID-19 would have been avoidable with the worst case at 100 and the best case at 580.
Under the province s current plan, if it administers the first dose to all residents by Feb. 15, the number of deaths prevented is projected to be 225, with the worst case at 100 and best at 340.