Elderly deserve swift action

This is not meant to criticize well-run longterm care facilities, of which there are many. However, there are countless centres that are disgraceful, in every respect. Many people who visit parents, friends or married partners at these facilities, even though they complain, run the gauntlet of bureaucratic nightmare.

We’ve all seen care homes that are badly run, badly staffed, filthy, or allow abuse in many forms. We’ve all heard from the media, word of mouth and from people who have personally experienced these conditions.

It is no secret that the majority of deaths caused by COVID-19 in Canada occur to the elderly. Assuming this is true, then why? Who is ultimately responsible for this? Can this be narrowed down to poor inspection of these premises, mismanagement, or greedy owners? If so, someone or some organization should be held responsible and severely punished, starting with the worst of the worst. An example must be made and made quickly. Justice in the form of severely imposed heavy fines, incarceration or loss of licence should be quickly imposed. It is not the time for committees or inquiries. It is a time for action. It is obvious that watchdogs worth their salt, should be the guardians of our elderly. Or, they should be quickly terminated.

The sooner this is cleaned up, the sooner COVID -19 will diminish and the sooner we can get back to near normalcy.

Ron Gobeil, Parksville