Alberta’s top doctor holds town halls on June 22/23 with care providers on visitation policy
Alberta Health Services (AHS), the province’s health authority, is inviting long-term care providers, residents, and families to a virtual town hall with Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Chief Medical Officer of Health, to discuss the next steps for Alberta’s visitor policy.
Alberta introduced visitation limits at continuing care sites on March 15th and announced a ban on all visitors on April 6th. On April 29th, the government announced residents at care homes who are not in self-isolation due to COVID-19 are allowed outdoor visits with a designated essential visitor and one other person.
Now, as advocates call on the government to allow family members back into long-term care homes, AHS is seeking input that will help inform changes to the visitor policy over the summer. Care providers, residents and families have been asked to consider what they would be willing to adjust or do differently to enable their desired type of visits.
“It is critical that we hear perspectives of residents of congregate care settings, their loved ones, and the operators of these settings as we seek to balance the needs of residents for human connection with loved ones with the needs of residents for prevention of exposure to COVID-19,” AHS said in its correspondence to providers, residents and families.
BC Care Providers Association has appealed to Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry to permit family members to visit with their loved ones in care homes provided measures are taken to mitigate risk.
In a correspondence to Dr. Henry, BCCPA asked the province’s top doctor to support a three-point plan that will not compromise workplace safety nor impact the provision of direct care. To inform the development of this plan, BCCPA has asked Dr. Bonnie Henry several times to meet with the province’s seniors’ care providers but has not heard back.
