Editor:
Recently, my 73-year-old mother was rushed to Peace Arch Hospital with several health concerns, none of them being related to COVID-19.
A week later, there was much discussion about sending her home to her current living situation without supports in place, even though we had requested extra supports.
She then took a turn for the worse and on a recent Saturday was admitted into a hospice facility.
My sister and I were with her and spent the night in the room with her to calm her down.
My mom had an up-and-down night, but mainly positive. The nurses said it was a big help us being there for my mom, who was terrified.
We spent the next day with her and things went better than expected and it was a very busy day at the hospice.
About 4 p.m., she went into a deep sleep, but she was calm and not agitated. Both day nurses recommended in their report that we be allowed to spend the night with her again, as it dramatically reduced her fear.
Directly after shift change, three nurses entered the room and told my sister and me that visiting hours would end at 9 p.m. and they hoped that we understood. We wouldn’t be able to spend another night with our mom because she was too stable to allow that to happen.
We don’t understand this whatsoever.
They instead want us to go away for 12 hours and be exposed to other people who may or may not have COVID, then come back in the morning and be with our mother again, not to mention everyone else at the hospice.
Does this make sense to you or to anyone for that matter?
Sally OMalley, White Rock