Gemstone resident Ida D'Amore, left, puts her hand on plexiglass barrier separating her and daughter Mirella during an outdoor visit (Image Credit: Frank D'Amore)

By Chad Klassen

LONG-TERM CARE VISITATION

Kamloops families in favour of rapid testing to see more of their loved ones in long-term care

Nov 19, 2020 | 2:48 PM

KAMLOOPS — It’s been a tough seven months for long-term care residents and their families with limited interactions.

“There’s lots of suffering going on for a lot of individuals in these homes because they haven’t seen their families for a long time,” said Frank D’Amore, whose mother Ida has been at Gemstone in Brocklehurst since May 2018.

During the pandemic, Ida’s only been able to see her children and grandchildren outside once a week for 10 minutes through plexiglass.

“I think if they could, now that the weather is getting cold and they can facilitate something indoors where family members can somehow safely see the person and be as close as possible, whether it’s through plexiglass inside or something where you’re wearing a safety suit of some sort, but these are people who really need the touching and the closeness of family members.”

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The BC Care Providers Association is trying to make it happen. During recommendations released on Thursday, the association is now pushing the provincial government to have rapid COVID-19 testing available at long-term care facilities, so the residents can have more meaningful interactions.

“This is used for the film industry. It’s used in sports leagues. It’s used for travelling at airports, and it’s used in the United States in seniors care as well,” said CEO of the BC Care Providers Association Terry Lake. “We think this should be looked at very seriously and instituted to safeguard seniors in care, so that staff and visitors aren’t at risk of bringing in the virus.”

D’Amore says more of his family could visit if rapid testing was implemented.

“If that could done instantaneously. It’s kind of silly. In our case, my sister and I have been visiting my mom every Monday and we’re like six inches apart,. My kids are there. It’s like our bubble,” he said. “But now because it’s too cold, in order to see her inside, we have to pick one family member, and only one, that can see her all the time and the rest can’t.”

With the family picking Frank’s sister Mirella based on availability, it means he loses out on seeing his mom, and she suffers, too.

“It makes me feel awful, but more importantly I think my mom feels saddened because even though she has dementia she still recognizes me and my sister, and I’m sure she’d like to see my sister and I together.”