A commentary by a 30-year public health nurse.
Re: “South Island spike, vaccine shortage add to Stanwick’s COVIDsomnia,” Jack Knox, Jan. 28.
Jack Knox’s column said that “all those residents of long-term care and assisted-living homes … have received their first dose of vaccine.” Theoretically that statement is true; in reality, I believe it’s not.
My mother is a resident of a combined assisted-living, independent-living seniors’ facility. I am not quite sure why she has been classified as “independent-living” — I was told once that it was because she is not subsidized; she is “private-pay.”
Regardless of the reason, she is definitely “assisted-living,” even though the powers-that-be tell me she is not.
My mom is 98 years old and frail. She has caregiver help all day long — to get dressed in the morning, to get ready for bed, to bath. She is escorted down and back from her visits with me as they are afraid she will fall.
They give her her medications and they often help her with her breakfast. Bless those caregivers’ hearts!
I doubt that my mom’s situation is unique. I think that the so-called “independent-living” seniors’ facilities of B.C. are likely full of people who are actually “assisted-living.” Caregivers are in all these homes providing extra care to our seniors as they age and their condition deteriorates.
The Island Health nurses came into my mom’s facility two weeks ago and immunized those deemed “assisted-living.”
I have no idea how many residents they immunized, but I am pretty confident that most were younger than my mother and some would be in better health.
However, getting your COVID-19 immunization should not be a competition, and I do not want to pit my mother against other seniors or even prisoners, for that matter. Every human being is important.
One more thing about the immunizations at my mom’s facility: The already overworked nurses will have to make four trips instead of two to fully immunize that facility. It doesn’t make any sense logistically.
However, I am trying to be fair; I think there truly must be some reason for that — probably the shortage of vaccine.
I am a strong supporter of Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix. As a public health nurse for more than 30 years I understand very well, that in any outbreak, there are rules and criteria that must be followed.
I have argued with myself for several weeks about writing this. I have told myself to be patient until March, which is when my mom might get her vaccine; to “be calm,” as Henry tells us.
I tried to reassure myself that my mom’s home has kept her safe and she will be safe until March. But then in last Sunday’s paper I read that 15 residents in a New Westminster care home had died of COVID in the past week, and now I am worried sick.
Many would say that it is time for my mother to “shuffle off this mortal coil,” but please — not with COVID, all alone and with difficulty breathing.
I am my mother’s advocate. I want better for her; she deserves better.
