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Recommendations Related to Visitor and Movement Restrictions in Long-Term Care and Retirement Homes in Ontario during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Perspectives of Residents, Families, and Staff

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 February 2024

Matthew C. H. Lam ,
Mary Y. Egan  and
Evelyne Durocher
Matthew C. H. Lam
Affiliation:
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
Mary Y. Egan
Affiliation:
School of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada Bruyere Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
Evelyne Durocher*
Affiliation:
School of Rehabilitation Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
*
Corresponding author: La correspondance et les demandes de tirésàpart doivent être adressées à : / Correspondence and requests for offprints should be sent to: Evelyne Durocher, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, McMaster University, 1400 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8S 1C7, Canada (durochee@mcmaster.ca).
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Abstract

In Canada, long-term care and retirement home residents have experienced high rates of COVID-19 infection and death. Early efforts to protect residents included restricting all visitors as well as movement inside homes. These restrictions, however, had significant implications for residents’ health and well-being. Engaging with those most affected by such restrictions can help us to better understand their experiences and address their needs. In this qualitative study, 43 residents of long-term care or retirement homes, family members and staff were interviewed and offered recommendations related to infection control, communication, social contact and connection, care needs, and policy and planning. The recommendations were examined using an ethical framework, providing potential relevance in policy development for public health crises. Our results highlight the harms of movement and visiting restrictions and call for effective, equitable, and transparent measures. The design of long-term care and retirement policies requires ongoing, meaningful engagement with those most affected.

Résumé

Résumé

Au Canada, les aînés qui vivent dans des établissements de soins de longue durée et dans des maisons de retraite ont été sévèrement affectés par la pandémie de COVID-19. Pour protéger cette population, les autorités ont imposé des restrictions dans les résidences, dont l’interdiction de se déplacer dans les établissements et d’accueillir tout visiteur. Ces restrictions ont entraîné de graves répercussions sur la santé et le bien-être des résidents. L’engagement auprès des résidents qui ont été le plus touchés par de telles restrictions peut nous aider à mieux comprendre leur vécu et répondre à leurs besoins. Dans le cadre de cette étude qualitative, 43 participants – résidents, membres de la famille et membres du personnel soignant de ces établissements – ont offert des recommandations concernant le contrôle des infections, la communication, les contacts sociaux, les soins et la planification. Ces recommandations ont été analysées à l’aide d’un cadre déontologique afin d’en déterminer la pertinence éventuelle dans l’élaboration de politiques de gestion des crises sanitaires. Les résultats illustrent les dommages causés par la restriction des déplacements et des visites et soulignent la nécessité de concevoir et mettre en œuvre des mesures efficaces, équitables et transparentes. La conception de politiques pour les établissements de soins de longue durée et les maisons de retraite exige un engagement constant et approfondi avec les personnes les plus touchées.

Keywords

long-term careretirement homesCOVID-19 pandemicvisiting restrictionsfamily caregiversagingsoins de longue duréemaisons de retraitepandémie de COVID-19restrictions des visitesproches aidantsvieillissement
Type
Article
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , First View , pp. 1 - 9
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Copyright
© Canadian Association on Gerontology 2024

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