Canada Couple Forced To Spend Christmas Apart After 70 Years

[mikey4444]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-42416756

Cruel and heartless are the words that come to mind, and a "jobsworth" for
the person that said " At this point the decision has been made and it is out of my hands."

[gness]

Another rule that is so cruel.....if I were the daughter I'd get Justin on the case......x

[pixie374]

That is really sad :-(. He has obviously been assessed as needing Nursing care now, so I'm not sure what you would expect to happen, Mikey? It would be the same here.

[mikey4444]

Pixie....they could at least have waited until after Xmas.

[pixie374]

They can't, Mikey. Once he has been assessed as needing more care, it is illegal to keep him in the wrong place. I see how harsh it is, but he needs to be somewhere he can be looked after properly. We had the same problem sometimes. We had nursing units upstairs, but weren't allowed to move people from the residential units downstairs, because of the application process, so one spouse could be moved out to a different home, even when their husband/wife was upstairs.

[gness]

When my Mum was assessed and needed a different type home I was given time...with no deadline...to find one I was happy with....this could have been done here for the sake of one week......
What if the assessment had taken place one week later? Months of holding off the move I would accept....I don't accept this...x

[pixie374]

I would have left it as long as possible before assessment- it's possible the staff had already been struggling for some time and it was no longer safe? They haven't made it very clear in the link.

[Patsy33]

I think someone will step in to make sure they at least spent Xmas together. I can't see the Canadians letting this happen for much longer. Come on Justin!

[pixie374]

If they were at home, they could stay together and have whatever level of care each one needed. In a residential home, they are extremely strict with assessment and there is an awful lot of red tape, which very often does rule out and kindness or common sense.

[gness]

I'll be surprised, Patsy...knowing many Canadians and how they can break rules in a pleasant way....if this couple can't stay together for a last Christmas....x

And honestly....if we have to obey every rule about cases like this...and length of hair....we'll end up like North Korea.....

Yours,
Ageing Hippy Gx

[Old_Geezer]

The system should be able to cope better in such circumstances. No incentive to bother designing it that well though.

[pixie374]

I really hope they somehow do- but to Mikey, the home has no choice once they know he needs Nursing care (and possibly equipment they don't have), because they will no longer be insured and it could be putting him and the staff in danger. It probably isn't as straightforward as it sounds from the link.

[Mamyalynne]

Very very sad, hope they find some way even for the short term.

[pixie374]

It would be expensive to mix units, because you would end up with a nurse present 24 hours a day, when half the residents wouldn't need one. Something needs changing, but I don't know what the answer is.

[gness]

Like I said, Pixie....I'd accept your argument for a month or more...for one week it's cruel and heartless....x

[pixie374]

If it is just "red tape" and residential can cope- there is no reason they couldn't go to a relative's for the day- if there are any...

[Patsy33]

My sister lives in Alberta, 37 years now. I'll get in touch with her later and get the feel of the people's opinion on this! Gness, do you wear a flower in your hair? :-)

[pixie374]

It's not really what I think, gness. It's the law. Personally, at home, I would continue as long as they wanted. But homecare is much less set in stone.

[gness]

It has been known, Patsy...and fairly recently...and I once lived in Alberta..... let me know what your sister says please.....x

[237SJ]

At least they will be together at Christmas (see last line)https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/12/19/new-brunswick-couple-sent-to-different-care-homes-after-73-years-and-days-before-christmas.html

[gness]

I know that, Pixie.....but we have to bend laws sometimes for the sake of kindness and care......x