Image Credit: Adam Donnelly / CFJC Today

By Dylana Kneeshaw

VISITATION RESTRICTIONS

Long-term care residents kept indoors during smoke and heat welcome first day of no-appointment visits

Jul 19, 2021 | 4:48 PM

KAMLOOPS — Significant changes to long-term care and assisted living visitation kicked in Monday (July 19), and visitors in British Columbia no longer have to schedule or book their visit in advance.

Berwick on the Park General Manager Bev Graham says for residents in long term care homes and their families who have spent nearly a year and a half navigating visitation restrictions, Monday was a welcome reprieve.

“This is Day One! And so of course, everybody is just getting used to it — and they’re like, ‘What, I don’t have to make an appointment? This is fantastic!'”

At Berwick, most of the familiar pandemic protocols remain in place, but visitors no longer need to book their appointments ahead of time. Graham says this makes visiting far more convenient for friends and family members of residents.

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“They still have to be pre-screened, we still have to take their temperature, we are going to be asking for proof of vaccination. But yeah, it’s definitely a newfound freedom.” notes Graham.

Graham adds that the eased restrictions come with extra excitement, as smoke and heat plaguing Kamloops in recent weeks have kept many residents indoors.

“With the extreme heat and the forest fires, and the smoke, that’s an added challenge. We often have outings for picnics and drives, and we’ve been keeping our residents inside. I mean they can go if they like, but we’re encouraging them to stay inside because of what’s happening with the air quality.”

CFJC spoke with resident Vivian Teare, who says it was challenging to have limits on who she could visit with, but Berwick did what it could to provide extra activities.

“Sometimes it’s been hard when you can’t do certain things. But it’s been good here because they keep us busy — which I do like. I’m a busy person, I’m a social person.”

While Teare is glad to have the flexibility with visitors, she notes that B.C’s other restriction changes have also opened up her social life.

“I’ve been able to visit my family because we’ve all been vaccinated. I’m really happy because I’ll now be able to go and visit, and be at my granddaughter’s wedding.”

Those who have been impacted the most by pandemic protocols breathed a sigh of relief this week, but Graham reiterates that Berwick will keep keeping its guard up.

“We, 18 months in, can claim that we have not had one COVID-19 case, and that is pretty amazing, pretty astounding in today’s times,” she says. “I think that’s partially due to our residents, their family members, and the staff, for sure.”

To read the updated long term care and assisted living facility visitor guidelines from the BC Centre for Disease Control, click here.