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Province clarifies policy on essential vs. social visits at care homes, seniors facilities

Updated Friday, the new policy clarifies difference between social, essential visits
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B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry update the COVID-19 situation, B.C. legislature, Dec. 10, 2020. (B.C. government)

B.C. health officials are clarifying what constitutes essential visits and social visits to long-term and assisted living care homes as restrictions in senior care facilities continue amid high daily case counts of COVID-19.

The update posted to the B.C. Centre for Disease Control website on Friday (Jan. 8) largely expanded on social visit policies.

RELATED: B.C. seniors suffer from isolation, depression in COVID-19

According to the ministry of health, essential visits include:

  • Visits for compassionate care, including hospice, end of life care and critical illness
  • Feeding, mobility and personal care assistance
  • Communication assistance and supported decision-making or cognitive impairment

Essential visits are limited to one visitor at a time with exceptions for palliative and end-of-life care. Registered volunteers providing these services are included.

Social visits are defined as visits made by a family member or friend of a resident. Only one designated family member or friend may visit. Every visitor must schedule their visit in advance with facility staff and socialize only in designated visiting areas.

Social visits are only allowed if there is no COVID-19 outbreak at the facility.

RELATED: B.C. seniors worry more about death from loneliness than COVID-19

Social or essential, all visitors must wear a mask, clean hands before and after visiting using soap and water or sanitizer and maintain social distancing. Those who are sick are required to stay home.

Visits were restricted to essential only in March 2020 after COVID-19 began transmitting into care facilities. It wasn’t until late June restrictions loosened to allow one social visitor. A report from B.C. Seniors Advocate Isobel Mackenzie released on Oct. 3 stated many facilities throughout the province went beyond health orders, restricting visits to a single person.

Visitation restrictions led to an unprecedented influx of phone calls and letters Mackenzie’s office. Her recommendations at the time included allowing a safe number of social visitors in an attempt to balance safety, outbreak management and social needs.

As of Thursday, there were 51 active outbreaks at care homes or assisted living facilities across the province.

– With files from Tom Fletcher


 

@ashwadhwani
adam.louis@bpdigital.ca

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