Isolating the elderly is not only bad for their overall health and well being, it is downright cruel. The effort to keep the elderly safe by isolating them has serious unintended side effects.  My parents, aged 90 and 91, would rather risk dying from coronavirus than wasting away alone in an assisted living facility. Obviously the time they have left on this earth is not long.  We need to hold our parents.  We need to hug them.  We have researched many different options of how to be near them.  We could take them out of the facility, but insurance won’t pay for home care. (only care in a facility).  It is cost prohibitive to do that and also pay for the care my mom would need at home.  The facility says they can’t move them to the top of the waiting list to get back in because “ It wouldn’t be fair”.

Even if they could eat with their fellow isolated residents, it would help so much to boost their outlook.  They have had to eat their meals in their rooms since they were locked in in early March.  The food is colder when they get it, less palatable and not always what they ordered.  They have lost weight and have become uncharacteristically depressed during isolation.  Living alone without their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, missing birthdays, weddings and holidays has taken a huge toll on them.  There has got to be a way for the elderly to see their loved ones.

Ideas for ways to get families back together and improve the overall health of our elderly loved ones:

1.  A meeting area outside to visit their family members while the weather is nice, following CDC guidelines.
2.  A meeting area inside partitioned off with plexiglass like they have in stores to protect the employees and customers—also following CDC guidelines. 
3.  Eating in the dining hall with fellow residents, following CDC guidelines. 
4.  Testing could be done for residents and family members, following CDC guidelines. 
5.  Proper screening with each visit per CDC guidelines. 
6.  And lastly, a way to give them hugs and hold their hands.  A big plastic flexible bubble or moon suits with all CDC approved material.  Surely someone can come up with a way to comfort our elderly while being kept away from their family.

My parents have gotten much worse since being locked down in early March.   I’m sure the same is true for many others living in care facilities across the country.  My siblings and I need to see our parents before it is too late!  Please help stop the suffering of elderly people and their families from, loneliness and depression.  Let’s help prevent any more from dying alone without their loved ones.  There are so many things available now since we know more about the virus: ways to prevent getting it,  better and faster testing, medications and better care for those who do get it.  All these measures lead to higher survival rates.  Help our elderly live out their final days with dignity and happiness in the company of their family.  I hope you will take the time to sign this petition.