Read on Twitter
This is heartbreaking.
We're caught between the potential loss of lives if covid gets into a care home & the actual loss of living while we deprive residents of contact with their beloveds.
It seems there are only 2 answers, & both are wrong:
1. Allow visiting
2. Ban visiting
1/ https://twitter.com/JohnCampaign/status/1305255178065543169
We're caught between the potential loss of lives if covid gets into a care home & the actual loss of living while we deprive residents of contact with their beloveds.
It seems there are only 2 answers, & both are wrong:
1. Allow visiting
2. Ban visiting
1/ https://twitter.com/JohnCampaign/status/1305255178065543169
What 3rd way could we imagine?
How do we reconcile one family's acceptance of risk in order to visit, with another family's right to minimise risk?
If only we knew #WhatMattersMost to these individuals.
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How do we reconcile one family's acceptance of risk in order to visit, with another family's right to minimise risk?
If only we knew #WhatMattersMost to these individuals.
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If we had a clear understanding of #WhatMattersMost to individual care home residents, we could consider 'low risk' strategies in some areas: no visitors for those whose length of life matters most to them.
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We could use our understanding of #WhatMattersMost to residents of care homes where contact with beloveds trumps all other considerations, to create facilities to receive visitors. Yes, there's a risk. Our task is to minimise risk AND enhance wellbeing.
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This tension between valuing life expectancy & enabling quality of life in our aged or most vulnerable citizens needs compassionate, nuanced discussion. #COVID19 will be with us for a long time. These dear people are suffering loneliness & emotional deprivation right now.
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Visits from beloveds enable people with cognitive impairment to locate themselves in love & companionship. This is as important as eating to their wellbeing.
Preserving life in incarcerated isolation can rarely be in their best interests.
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Preserving life in incarcerated isolation can rarely be in their best interests.
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I don't know the answer to the conundrum of whether it's more important to save life or to live well. It will vary between individuals & opinion is divided within families.
But we need to open the discussion.
Nicci Gerard and @JohnCampaign are leading the way.
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But we need to open the discussion.
Nicci Gerard and @JohnCampaign are leading the way.
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Nicci reminds us that the beloveds of care home residents aren't mere 'visitors.' Their presence is therapeutic, rewarding & dignifying residents' personhood. They contribute to residents' wellbeing, and this should be categorised as care.
What's the solution?
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What's the solution?
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@AmitAryaMD @dr_shibley @learnhospice @PCPLDnetwork @TuffreyWijne @AltComMemSoc @mancunianmedic @GeriSoc @emmavardy2 @Trisha_the_doc
