FILE PHOTO

Image Credit: PEXELS

A research team at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops has been busy collecting data as part of a unique and potentially ground breaking study looking into the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on long-term care residents.

“We are currently looking for more participants for the study,” TRU School of Nursing associate professor Dr. Tracy Christianson said.

The research team is collecting information from relatives of long-term care residents in a study about the impact of COVID-19 restrictions. Findings will be analyzed and submitted to the Ministry of Health in order to help decision makers make better informed, family-centred decisions for long-term care residents and family care givers during restrictive health measures.

“We want to understand how the restriction strategies in care places are or are not working, and how they affect families emotionally, psychologically and physically,” Christianson said. "We want to be clear on what we do or don’t do in future outbreaks like the flu, or bigger pandemic situations.”

READ MORE: Kelowna woman trying to ensure seniors in care are treated better than her mother was

As a professor, Christianson had an inside look at the impacts of COVID-19 restrictions on the long-term care residents and their family members last year when she was bringing students to the facilities as part of their program.

“It was before the time of the vaccine,” she said. “We were allowed to go in and families were not. It was distressing. I immediately contacted a colleague and we started planning to do a study about what it must be like for families not able to see their loved ones.”

Christianson started looking for much-needed study participants late last year. There are currently around 50 participants and 50 more are needed to complete the research.

“We are focussing on families in the broader sense,” she said. “Participants can be of any family relation, close friends or legal guardians of anyone living in a B.C. care facility.”

Participants are needed to fill out surveys, which will give researchers a good understanding of their experiences. Then participants can do one-to-one interviews with research team members, or join a focus groups.

“What we are hearing from participants so far is that pandemic restrictions in care facilities has been challenging, frustrating and sad,” Christianson said. “There are inconsistencies in rules from one facility to the next. Some have not been able to hug their loved one as they lay dying. Most have experienced worry and guilt. We are looking for ideas on how to make this better.”

READ MORE: New COVID restrictions for B.C. long-term care homes; easing of self-isolation rules

In many cases only one family member is elected to be essential and able to visit the loved one in care. This can leave that family member spending too much time helping give essential care rather than engaging with chatting and activities like playing cards.

“Everyone is trying to make the right decisions while things keep changing,” she said. “What seems to be missing in a lot of cases is the family centeredness. Most families would rather see a focus on quality of life more than extending that person’s life.”

The call for participants will extend until the end of March.

“There have been studies on the impacts of the pandemic long-term care residents and their paid caregivers but we want to explore what it is like for the family caregivers,” Christianson said. “It is a tough thing to share your personal stories about your loved ones but everyone’s voices are needed to make the change.”

To participate in this study send an email to tchristianson@tru.ca or call 250-828-5478.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Shannon Ainslie or call 250-819-6089 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. 

News from © iNFOnews, 2022