So, where are we in this Top 10 Caregiver Peeves series? Last time under the post called “Don’t Touch My Stuff!”, I warned that things are about to get exponentially worse. And, they have. For, we are about to tackle the increasingly contentious topic of eldercare housing and various types of facilities being increasingly held to account. As well they should!
If It Was Bad Before (and it was)…
Do not believe me. I quote a devastating March 2020 Toronto STAR newspaper article exposing that a COVID-19 outbreak proved long-term safety risks in nursing homes. It cites chronic low staffing and workplace hazards that put the health of both residents and employees in danger. Duh! According to an advanced “Enhanced Epidemiological Summary”, trends were tracked by their measures. Those figures were only the start as we all well know.
Confirming Our Worst Fears
Now it is time for our measures as adult children of elderly parents and relatives – Un-cope-able or not. Those will include what we call outward- and inward-facing. Even before Coronavirus hit big-time, there was a HUGE distinction between those two environments. Bottom-line, you can display all the marble halls you want as a high-end retirement facility. Whether you are exclusive or low-end, the times are changing. Reference Bob Dylan’s iconic song.
Please Do Not Believe It Will Get Better
For, I cite here only the bare-bones statistics. Since, for-profit long-term care homes have proven to be the worst COVID-19 epicenters north and south of the Canada-U.S. border. Notice I did not say not-for-profit. By the time all was said and done, an overall case fatality rate of 27.8% was reported at https://www.cmaj.ca/content/192/33/E946 along with other statistics that boggle those of us who only care about the fate of our loved ones.
Next Time Around
My next post will be called: “It Is Someone Else’s Responsibility”. The meaning of this phrase ties directly to the falsehood hopefully dispelled this week. Namely, do NOT count on any kind of nursing home, assisted living or even fancy retirement home to have your best interests at heart.
Instead of rose-colored glasses, let us don realistic lenses as to what you and I are in for versus not in for. My stance prior to COVID-19 was sharp on these fronts. It has now become lethal. Please stand by for what I like to call “the real goods”.
Carol-Ann Hamilton
Latest posts by Carol-Ann Hamilton (see all)
- Once Housed, We’re Good - January 21, 2021
- “Do Not Pry Into My Business!” - August 9, 2020
- “I Can Hack It When the Time Comes” - August 1, 2020
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