The editor:
This whole COVID-19 pandemic is really bringing to light the nursing home situation in Canada. The horrible stories from the Canadian military about neglect, abuse, unsanitary living conditions and lack of staff in some Ontario nursing homes must be dealt with. Our aging seniors who live in these facilities deserve better and it is about time our governments, both federal and provincial, address this problem.
Many families make the very difficult decisions to move a loved one into a nursing home with the thoughts that their loved one will be taken care of. To hear that some seniors in Ontario homes were being fed once a day and don’t have enough staff to bathe and clean the residents is unbelievable in Canada in the year 2020.
These are our vulnerable elderly who have helped build this country and I am sickened to think of one of my parents living like that.
Meanwhile, my dad, Hector Boulet, lived at the Estevan Regional Nursing Home for about four years before his death last fall. I am so very thankful my dad was treated with the dignity and respect he deserved. The staff there is wonderful and mom was up to date on everything going on with him.
There was compassion, laughter, thoughtfulness and understanding by the staff. Dad was not a number, he was dad. I will always be grateful to the nurses and all staff that took proper care of my dad. Thank you Estevan Regional Nursing Home.
Andrea Friess
Penticton, B.C.