families reunite with loved ones in long-term care homes in b.c.
“i actually got to his room with my mom, and they were just bringing him back, and i threw my arms open wide, and said, ‘hey, dad,’ and he just lit up. it was pretty cool.” — elma melhus
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by: gordon hoekstra
after the covid-19 lockdown last year shuttered the doors to long-term care homes, the family of jim o’friel were only able to visit virtually and in some instances through a window.
but it was a far cry from visiting face to face, especially for a husband, father and grandfather aged 83 who had a series of strokes and suffered from cognitive issues.
jim’s wife april was eventually granted essential-visitor status at eagle ridge manor in port moody, but the rest of jim’s family were unable to visit with him in person.
that was until recently, a result of relaxed restrictions as seniors in long-term care homes and the staff have been vaccinated.
elma melhus was able to visit her dad for the first time in 14 months on april 1.
elma remembers the day very clearly because it was also her mom april’s birthday — and the first day of the eased restrictions.
“i actually got to his room with my mom, and they were just bringing him back, and i threw my arms open wide, and said, ‘hey, dad,’ and he just lit up. it was pretty cool.”
the revised visitation rules allow up to two visitors at a time, as well as a child, and, importantly to family members, permits holding hands and hugs.
eagle ridge manor is one of 151 care homes in the fraser health region, which has been hit hard by the pandemic, now open to the wider family visitations.
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the easing of restrictions is directly related to the vaccination of care home residents and staff.
resident and staff vaccination rates have been at 90 per cent or more — greater than the 83 per cent vaccination of the entire population over 70 years of age.
jim o’friel has had two vaccine doses now, as has his wife april, who lives independently.
the revised visitation rules still require wearing a medical-grade mask and proper hand hygiene, and if a covid-19 outbreak occurs, as does still happen occasionally, social visits will be suspended.
“our teams have worked hard to find ways to connect families virtually during the pandemic, but we know in-person connections are so important,” says dr. victoria lee, president and ceo of fraser health.
even from a distance, elma said you could tell the enforced isolation from the pandemic had been hard on her father, who in his working life had been a horticulturist and then taught at what would later become the b.c. institute of technology.
he didn’t have many words he could use because of the strokes, but he would say “coronavirus” and “trapped” when trying to communicate his feelings, she said.
with wider family visitations restored, he now has a spark in his eye, said elma of her father, who used to dive into his home garden after work.
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her sister sarah o’friel also saw the change noted by elma, with sarah saying it’s the first time you can see hope in his eyes.
it has made up for heartbreaking moments during the pandemic, including the first time elma’s mom april got to visit her dad after the full lockdown. it was through a glass window — and they were both crying.
and there hasn’t been a full return to normal, said elma, when you could rub shoulders with other residents, bring the family dog and participate in a christmas singing night, including one led by her son andrew allen, a musician, in 2019.
next up is her daughter, ciara melhus, who plans to bring a picture collage when she visits her grandfather.
and as family members have reunited after more than a year apart, the care home staff were also emotional. “i think they were so happy for everyone too,” said elma.
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