Skip to main content

“I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.” ~~ John G. Diefenbaker

"End the Lock-Down of Seniors in Long-Term Care and Assisted Living", say BCs Conservatives

According to numbers released less than 6 weeks ago, nearly 60% of the deaths (151) directly attributable to COVID-19 were seniors living in long term care and assisted living facilities.  While no official numbers are currently in place, of the 543 official deaths attributed to the pandemic as of yesterday, it’s likely that there are now over 300 seniors, from care facilities, who have passed from the virus.

"These people are more than just statistics. They are loved ones who have spent their final months, weeks, and days in relative isolation. And their family members have been deprived of the opportunity to comfort and support them in their final hours,” observed Conservative BC leader Trevor Bolin.

A recent report* from the Office of the Seniors Advocate stated that, "... the goal was to ensure residents in long-term care and assisted living were kept safe ... eight months later, we need to ask the question: What are we keeping them safe for if it is not to enjoy the time they have left with the ones they love?”

“We understand,” Bolin continued, “that the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 mRNA vaccine will begin rolling out next week, however, it will be many months before all of our elderly family members can be vaccinated.”

“Many seniors are losing the will to live because of the isolation that has been imposed upon them. In addition, with no opportunity to say goodbye to family members passing in long-term care and assisted living, this will undoubtedly have an extremely negative impact on the mental and emotional health of those left behind.”

A regular test is available that provides accurate results within 24 hours, and just in the past few days the travel industry has announced a plan to have vacationers tested with results also back in 24 hours.

“If it’s been successfully used to get BC’s film industry restarted, and get the airline industry off life support, should we not prioritize it’s use so that we can spend quality time with our family members who have spent far too many months in isolation, especially those nearing end of life?”

"Even with the just announced roll-out of a vaccine, this pandemic will continue to impact our seniors for many more months,” Bolin stated.

“That is why this morning we call on the provincial government to make it a priority to allow for British Columbians to once again be able to spend time with their loved ones, and to visit them in long -term care and assisted living facilities.”

“This needs to be done starting today,” Bolin concluded.


* Staying Apart to Stay Safe: The Impact of Visit Restrictions on Long-Term Care and Assisted Living Survey

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The NDP is destroying BC's softwood industry as 100 Mile House mill shuts down and jobs vanish

No more than a few days after the province hosted its much-touted summit to discuss the continuing impact of U.S. softwood tariffs, and with Statistics Canada reporting another decline in BC’s softwood production, the axe has fallen on West Fraser Timber’s 100 Mile House mill. Lorne Doerkson, MLA for Cariboo–Chilcotin , says the devastation now hitting the South Cariboo is what happens when government ignores every warning sign coming from the forest sector. “One hundred and sixty-five people in 100 Mile House just lost their jobs,” said Doerkson. “That’s 165 families wondering how they’ll pay their bills and whether they can stay in their own community. The ripple effect will hit every business on main street, from the gas stations and restaurants to the grocery stores.” “The Minister’s thoughts and prayers aren’t enough for those families facing unimaginable hardship. It’s time this minister did his job and not another photo op,” said Doerkson. “The Minister thinks the ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Premier’s Office Acknowledges Richmond Residents Affected by Cowichan Land Claim Face Issues on “Mortgages, Property Sales”

“The Premier’s Office is secretly sending letters to my constituents behind my back. If the NDP were truly committed to transparency and supporting residents, they would have proactively engaged with owners years ago, not rushed out last-minute letters to cover their tracks.” ~~ Steve Kooner, Conservative MLA for Richmond-Queensborough and Opposition Critic for Attorney General Steve Kooner, Conservative MLA for Richmond-Queensborough and Opposition Critic for Attorney General, is criticising Premier David Eby and the NDP provincial government for secretly delivering non-committal, last-minute letters to Richmond residents affected by the Cowichan Tribes land claim. For over six years the NDP misled British Columbians on the implications of indigenous land claims. Premier Eby is now quietly sending staff to conduct damage control following public fallout from his 2019 strategic directive for government lawyers not to argue extinguishment of aboriginal title, even over p...
Post a Comment
Read more

Kamloops woman’s cancer test cancelled due to Interior Health mandates for OB/GYNs (iNFO News)

A Kamloops woman’s cancer screening appointment was considered urgent by her doctors and scheduled within weeks, but it was postponed indefinitely when Interior Health ordered her gynecologist take that day’s on-call shift. Troylana Manson now waits with the mystery of whether she might have cancer amid a staffing crisis for women’s health care specialists in Kamloops. “I was happy to have that appointment in December so we could rule this out, but now it’s thrown in the air again. People in Kamloops, certainly people in positions of power, need to realize what Interior Health is doing”  ... CLICK HERE for the full story
Post a Comment
Read more

Labels

Show more