Dear Editor:
Re: Care Homes Will Soon Allow Visitors, July 1 front-page story.
A thank-you to North Shore News reporter Jane Seyd [and interview subjects with parents in long-term care] Diane Montgomery and Kathie Boyd for a good news story of hope.
I was beginning to wonder if I was in the minority as a daughter who visited her mom frequently, missed her dearly and has been struggling daily. The voices of the long-term care families have been so quiet.
It was very touching to read this story and to be heard. My fingers are crossed I will also be allowed to hold my mom’s hand and let her know she was never forgotten.
I too was able to visit my mom through her patio door window, until she was moved to an inside room. I had a similar heartbreaking visit on July 3 in the lobby at Lynn Valley Care Centre. When I spoke to my mom the next day, I realized the depth of how much we were both set back by the experience. With no hope for a second visit until Oct. 1, based on the calculations of number of visits allowed per week divided by number of residents, it’s challenging to answer questions like: “Are you coming to visit today?”
The news of the government kicking in funding to hire staff to accommodate family visits was music to my ears. It should be possible now to increase the number of visits per week. Once again, a ray of hope.
Like Diane and Kathie, I am a hands-on daughter. Visits from family members helps to lighten the load for the care aides and nurses.
I believe we are all missing each other. I hope as the help with family visits increases, the communication lines open and families can feel less and less like they are being left in the dark.
My heart and my hopes go out to all families who are missing their loved ones. The steps it will take to successfully improve the lives of seniors in long-term care have now been simplified ... let’s visit, safely, often and as soon as possible. We’ve been patient and calm, please, grant this wish.
Kim Galati
North Vancouver
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