‘Our battle looks a lot different,’ says seniors’ care worker on frontlines of COVID-19 fight

As the COVID-19 pandemic takes a huge toll on long-term care homes across Canada, seniors’ care workers have stepped up to the plate and become the real heroes on the frontlines of the crisis.

In the message below, a staff member at Abbotsford’s Menno Place explains why their fight against COVID-19 is uniquely challenging and how workers are going above and beyond to protect and comfort seniors in care.

The staff in nursing homes aren’t fighting the same battle that the other nurses and doctors are fighting against COVID-19. Our battle looks a lot different.

We are fighting to protect our elders from the outside world. We’re fighting against depression and loneliness. We are fighting boredom and confusion caused by dementia and Alzheimer’s. We are fighting frustration of family members not being able to visit and families who feel disconnected and fear for their loved one.

So until this crisis is over, we will give comforting words and do our best to create fun activities that can be done safely. We will hold the iPads and phones so loved ones can see their elder who in unable to communicate and reassure them everything is okay. Staff will visit daily and provide reassurance, pray, seeing, or just be there to comfort them. We will put on smiles even when our heads are pounding, we are overwhelmed by all the new regulations and added documentation, and we are fighting worry ourselves.

We will do what we can to make sure the outside world stays “outside” and our elders stay safe.