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Letter: 'Disgraceful' care homes prolonging pandemic nightmare

Editor: This is not meant to criticize well-run long-term care facilities, of which there are many. However, there are countless centres that are disgraceful, in every respect.
COVID-19, file, stock photo
COVID-19 is front and centre for the City of New Westminster. But what does that mean for other files that may be in the works? These and other questions are now facing city council as they cope with the new normal of life in a pandemic.

Editor:

This is not meant to criticize well-run long-term care facilities, of which there are many. However, there are countless centres that are disgraceful, in every respect.

Many people who visit parents, friends or married partners at these facilities, even though they complain, run the gauntlet of bureaucratic nightmare. We’ve all seen care homes that are ill-run, badly staffed, filthy, or allow abuse in many forms. 

We’ve all heard from the media, word-of-mouth and from people who have personally experienced the above. 

It is no secret that the majority of deaths caused by COVID-19 in Canada occur to the elderly. Assuming this is true…why? Who is ultimately responsible for this?

Can this be narrowed down to poor inspection of these premises, mismanagement or greedy owners? If so, someone or some organization should be held responsible and severely punished, starting with the worst of the worst. An example must be made and made quickly, before more of our elderly, who have worked so hard in their lives so that when they leave this earth, they can do so with dignity. 

Justice in the form of severely imposed heavy fines, incarceration or loss of licence should be quickly imposed. It is not the time for committees or inquiry. It is a time for action!

It is obvious that watchdogs worth their salt, should be the guardians of our elderly. Or, they should be quickly terminated.

The sooner this is cleaned up, the sooner COVID-19 will diminish and the sooner we can get back to near normalcy.

Ron Gobeil