‘Tough’ times for families, residents

HALIFAX — When Peter Slade walks by restaurant patios filled with people enjoying a night out, he thinks of his mother Ora who hasn’t been able to visit his home for over a year.

As a nursing home resident, Ora Slade isn’t allowed to visit family at home because of pandemic restrictions. Her son can take her for a drive and he tries to visit Northwood Bedford as much as possible.

“It’s been tough,” Peter said, his voice breaking, in an interview Monday along with Ora, 86. They were sitting in one of the home’s outside garden areas, which must be booked days ahead for family visits.

“She had poor eyesight before coming in here and it’s gotten worse. Now it’s at the point where she doesn’t have very much at all ... so I try to come in and spend more time and it’s difficult … trying to find that balance between family and work and everything else.”

Originally phase 2 of Nova Scotia’s reopening plan didn’t include any details on longterm care. But the province announced changes last week that allowed residents to go for a walk off facility grounds or go through a drive-thru with a designated caregiver. Fully vaccinated residents like Ora also can leave the facility to visit outdoor places such as parks.

Indoors residents no longer have to be in the same groups for dining and group activities and volunteers are allowed back into facilities.

But the current reopening plan won’t see residents being able to visit family at home until phase 4 on July 15.

Public health officials have said long-term care residents are among the most vulnerable to the virus and they must be cautious about easing restrictions in that sector.

In the first wave of the pandemic, 53 residents of Northwood Halifax died from COVID-19.

The Slades said they don’t question the need for pandemic measures. But given that both he, as a designated caregiver, and his mother are both fully vaccinated, Peter said the risks must be balanced with people’s mental health.

“It concerns me that I cannot go there and visit with him,” said Ora, who has been at Northwood Bedford for about 10 years.

“I can have a quick lunch with them now, outside, but not in restaurants or places like that or he can bring in a small lunch from home for me … This is good but it's not a normal feeling of being together and relaxing.”

Nursing home advocacy groups have been lobbying the Nova Scotia government to bridge the gap between residents and families as quickly as possible.

“LTC residents, staff, and designated caregivers were the first in the province to be double vaccinated, but why are they so neglected in the reopening plan?” the Reunited Families of LongTerm-Care residents said in a recent news release.

“Residents are losing hope, and sadly, some want to die.

Some have died because of the isolation and the lack of quality of life.”

The organization said some facilities have restricted designated caregiver visits despite the fact clear guidelines have been sent out from the province.

“It makes no sense why LTC residents continue to live in such isolation. In Phase 2, the general population will be able to dine out, go to the gym or library, shop and travel freely in the Atlantic region . ... Residents should have the ability to leave the facility and visit with family who are also vaccinated.”

Ora Slade said the constantly changing rules and regulations have been hard to follow.

Her son agreed, recounting his attempt to get clarification from provincial information lines.

“Eventually after going through the (phone) queues, I got to Service Nova Scotia and the person there was really understanding but she didn’t have any information,” she said. “I said is there a process for me to escalate this so it gets passed on and she said no but .. you could call N.S. Health and here’s the number. And I said that’s the number I called to reach you. So we both laughed a little bit.”

He and Ora credited Northwood Bedford staff for doing their best to keep up with the changing scenarios.

“I know it’s hard for the home here, they’re following what they’re told by the province and trying to accommodate everything.”