Thank you to all for your voice. The conversation to safely access our beloved, voiceless seniors isolating in long term care is being heard and affecting change.  Including yourself, 50,000+ have signed the petition to Make Safe Access to Seniors isolating in Long Term Care the Country's TOP priority.

Elected leaders of Ontario and Newfoundland/Labrador have taken the first step in presenting a solution that balances compassion and acceptable risks to gradually resume visits to long term care homes.  

Now, it is even more important for the conversation to continue and to be loud.  As we keep the conversation going we ask that our elected officials:

• work on a pandemic plan and commit to being prepared for a next Covid-19 phase or a future pandemic
• agree that we will never again subject our voiceless and most vulnerable population to the possibility of prolonged isolation with no contact with their loved ones
• develop a pandemic plan that recognizes at least one family member as part of the essential care team. 

I would like to share with you the email I sent this morning to the Prime Minister and the provincial premiers sharing this collective voice, acknowledging the first step by some provinces and urging the conversation to continue:

Dear Prime Minister, Premiers and Minister

This asks that you consider the on-line petition signed by 50,000+ to Make Safe Access to Seniors isolating in Long Term Care the Country's TOP priority. This is up considerably from the 14,000 names that signed the petition a week ago June 4th (below), when I last presented this request. Attached are the names who have signed the petition and 32 pages of heart-wrenching comments.

I would like to acknowledge the leadership of Premier Ford with yesterday's announcement on the gradual resumption of visits to long-term care homes, retirement homes, and other residential care settings and in presenting a solution that balances compassion and acceptable risks. Thank you for listening to the 50,000+ people who asked that "as the country is gradually releasing Covid19 restrictions, our elected officials to make it the Country's top priority to make safe access to seniors isolating in long term care. "  This appreciates you have made this step when much of the Ontario region is still in Phase 1 with the balance of the province is in Phase 2.  I also recognize Premier Ball of Newfoundland/Labrador for his announcement on the resumption of visits as his province begins Phase 3.

Thank-you Premier Ford for your leadership with this vital first step at this time and I ask that your leadership for our most vulnerable continue, that your next step is working on a pandemic plan and that you commit to being prepared if there is a next Covid-19 phase or a future pandemic. I ask that you agree that we will never again subject our voiceless and most vulnerable population to the possibility of prolonged isolation and no contact with their loved ones. I ask that the pandemic plan recognizes at least one family member as part of the essential care team. 

I am disappointed in Premier Palliser of Manitoba, who failed to demonstrate leadership for our voiceless senior population as part yesterday's Phase 3 announcement. Premier Palliser claimed that Manitoba has some of the most positive test rates across all of North America and boldly announced plans to increase public gatherings to 100, claiming many of phase 3 components were important for small businesses, while the province's most vulnerable - seniors isolating in long term care, were ignored.  One week ago Manitoba had given seniors hope when on June 5, 2020, Lanette Siragusa of Shared Health stated Manitoba is working to strike a balance between protecting staff/patients, minimizing the spread of Covid and ensuring that the vital connections with loved ones help to promote health and healing. Manitoba did not have the outbreaks in long term care that many other provinces saw. MANITOBA'S SENIORS LIVING IN RETIREMENT HOMES HAVE BEEN DOING THEIR PART TO STOP THE SPREAD OF COVID-19. The limited outside visits announced last week are a start but they are not enough. Ontario is doing more, Newfoundland and Labrador are doing more.  Long term care residents in Manitoba, including patients with dementia, urgently need to have safe inside visits to help their mental well being. They deserve more.

This further requests that Prime Minister Trudeau and the other provincial premiers look to the leadership of Premier Ford, and do more. Canada wide our vulnerable Senior population needs a voice. In April and May, the army spoke for them in Central Canada. NOW, more then EVER as Covid restrictions are being gradually released across the Country - WE NEED A consolidated and loud voice for our most vulnerable. We need a National pandemic plan now and in the future, that balances compassion and acceptable risks. Prime Minister Trudeau please step up for all Seniors across the Country. Our seniors have paid their pound of flesh tenfold during this pandemic. How can we do any less that make their mental and physical well being the Country's top priority now and in the future?

Thank you for taking the time to read this and for protecting and representing our most vulnerable. Thank you, Premiers Ford and Ball for your leadership to date and in the future.

On behalf of the 50,000 who have signed the petition

Perry Lupyrypa,

Daughter of Betty Pratcshler, recent widow and new resident of Brightwater Seniors Residence.

Link to petition: https://www.change.org/SeniorVoice

(Please continue to share the petition broadly)

Additionally, I have heard from a signee who has been communicating with the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedon JCCF.  The JCCF is a public interest, non-partisan law firm and registered charity.  They have stepped up to advocate for Seniors in LTCHs and are looking for stories on how the isolation has affected them.  They are asking you to email your story to info@jccf.ca.

Many thanks!  

Perry