Long-Term Care Homes and Hospitals Relax Visitor Restrictions

July 23, 2020, Kitchener, Ontario

Posted by: Robert Deutschmann, Personal Injury Lawyer

For many individuals living in long-term care homes and staying in hospitals it has been an extremely stressful few month. The COVID-19 pandemic forced radical changes in visitor policies in both kinds of facilities. Those isolated in the homes may have felt alone and abandoned, while those in hospitals have also felt lonely.

Many people have died without having the chance to say farewell to their loved ones, to have clergy with them, or to have the comforting touch of those they love. For those who have lost loved ones in the pandemic the painful loss of their loved ones is made even more acute by the fact they could not visit or be with them.

These actions were taken as a response to the many deaths in the facilities that failed to lock down visitors early enough and that allowed the spread of the virus among the extremely vulnerable people in their care. Class action law suits and individual law suits have been filed against many of the homes in response to their apparent negligence.

Early last week however, the province of Ontario announced that hospitals and long-term care homes were opening and allowing an extremely limited number of visitors in weekly.

In hospitals patients may be allowed up to 6 visitors if they are in acute care. The individuals will be advised of all of the restrictions and how the visiting process works in the unit concerned.

Obstetrical patients, who were left to labour without their partners may now have one support person who can stay for the entire durations of the labour and mother’s stay and they may visit as many times as they like daily. They will also be allowed up to four other visitors after delivery and before discharge.

All individuals entering care homes and hospitals will be screened and will be required to wear PPE and follow safety protocols established by the province and the individual facilities.

This may be good news for many elderly, disabled and sick individuals who have been very alone for several months provided that everyone follows the rules.

About Deutschmann Law

Deutschmann Law serves South-Western Ontario with offices in Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, Woodstock, Brantford, Stratford and Ayr. The law practice of Robert Deutschmann focuses almost exclusively in personal injury and disability insurance matters. For more information, please visit www.deutschmannlaw.com or call us at 1-519-742-7774.