All About Estates

Bye bye May, hello happiness…..

Here we are at the end of May; warmer weather ( except for last week’s snow), longer days and the promise that this current stay at home order will be ending soon.

Restrictions are starting to let up. Outdoor dining, in store shopping and haircuts are hopefully  resuming. However for those who have family in Long Term Care, outdoor visits with more than one person are now finally being encouraged. The latest directive(#3)  for Long Term Care indicates the following:

“Essential visitors

Visits for essential visitors are permitted as follows, subject to direction from the local public health unit:

  • any number of support workers may visit a home
  • a maximum of 1 caregiver per resident may visit inside the home at a time, including when a resident is self-isolating or symptomatic
  • a maximum of 2 caregivers per resident may visit outside the home at a time

A caregiver may not visit any other resident or home for 14 days after visiting another:

  • resident who is self-isolating or symptomatic; and/or,
  • home in an outbreak where the caregiver was in a portion of the home affected by the outbreak

General visitors

A maximum of 2 general visitors per resident (children under the age of 2 are not counted as a visitor) may visit outdoors at a time, subject to direction from the local public health unit, provided the resident is not symptomatic or isolating. Caregiver(s) may also be present at these visits in addition to the general visitors.”

However there are still no general visitors  permitted for indoor visits.

Whether meeting  inside or outside, families will soon be reunited and I can only hope this opening and resumption of ‘life’ will continue without any setbacks.

The isolation for many seniors has resulted in poorer health.   With less cognitive stimulation this decline has resulted in a functional change as well. For many of us and for seniors in particular who were experiencing poor health pre covid, they are now experiencing  an even greater decline. Doctor’s appointment  were not kept, tests were cancelled and specialist appointments even further  delayed.

So as we say goodbye to May and welcome summer, let’s try to reconnect- especially with our older friends, family and neighbors who may have been very much on their own.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About Audrey Miller
About: Audrey Miller, Managing Director of Elder Caring Inc. has over 30 years social work and rehabilitation experience working with older individuals and their families. She advises the financial, insurance, legal and business communities regarding elder care issues. Audrey is a recognized expert in her field. Email: amiller@eldercaring.ca

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